
Class 

Book 



COPIOUCKT DEPOSm 




THE AU^FHOR. 



HISTORY 



U1-- 



FORT FAIRFIELD 



AM)- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 



-wrrii- 



LLUSTRATIONS. 



■\',\ 



C. 11. KLLIS. 



lull I kaikfii:li>. ^iaink. 
I'Oirr FAUIFIELD riUNTINc; CO. 



i'"^')! 



Copyrighted bv 

C. 11. ELLIS. 

i.S()4. 






PREFACE, 



\\\' l"i;i\c' (.'ndt-axorccl in this histor\" to i^ixc the 
facts, covering" an carK' }KMit)cl. lor wliicli wc ha\o 
depended almost i-niirt-K- ii]ion \i'ibal aeeniinl> 
Liix t'li In the tii^sl scllk'is. To iIk' larLi'esI possible 
amount ol" siieli inCormalion (.-arerullN' eompai'ed 
and made reeoneilable with ilscll, we ha\e al\va\s 
ni\en prel'efenee lo wi-iUen accounts, whellier ol' 
pvTsonal or pubbc inlefcst. And so Car as pubHc 
records lia\ e cox ered llie ui'ountl. tliis hisloi'x will 
be found in perfect accord with them. 

Till-: ArriioR. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Upon my return Irom the West, after an absence 
oC more than a quarter of a century, I found many 
of tlie old landmarks rcmo\ ed, and matters of in- 
terest which had come under my personal observa- 
tion radically chani^ed, or entirely left out of the 
unwritten history ofAroostook. With the fact be- 
lorc nu'. that \ery soon important e\ents, without 
\\ hich a history of our town would be both \in- 
satislact(»i\ and incomplete, would be be\ond the 
reach of the histoiian. I commenced prepariiii;- a 
series of articles lor the XortJiern Leader, under 
the title or"'riii: IIistoky of Fort FAiRriiiLD," 
with the intention of subseciuentK- publishing; them 
in book form. 

That portion of the histor\ prior to 184^5 has been 
compiled Jroni the most reliable unwritten authori- 
ties obtainable. toL^ethei" with so much written re- 
cord as could be oblainetl: from i'*^!,^ to iSC)o b\' 
personal obsersation, and so much written infor- 
mation as was obtainable from private and otiicial 
records; trom 1 S()o to the present date, onlv, ha\ e 
we been .able to dejtend uj">on ollicial records. 

C. H. KLLl.S. 
j-'ort l-'aiilield, January, iSt)^. 



COXTl'XTS. 



C'lIAPTI'K I. 

I.O'. AllOX. 

I'cKH- <>| i;.S'. NortlKM^lern I><niml.ir\. S;ir\i-\- 
by llellaiul. l-];irl\ Settlement. Ma^sacluisetts 
Claim. District oj" Maine. Phiiiouth (irant. 
(irants hy Kni^lish Crown to Settleis. L'harae- 
ter of lviil\ Settlers. 

ClIAPTI-.k 11. 

Massaehiisetts had taken Possession. l-'eeiin^s of 
Hostility (irowini;- out of two \\'ars. I^anii'er ( i' 
l>looclshecl. Stopping- the 'i^espassino. iniikl- 
in^ii" the l)()()m. I^isbantlin-- the Militia. The 
\'oinnteer>. 

LliAPTlCK 111. 

ri;K \iam:.\ I I'ossiissiox. 

State Militia. The X'olunteer I-"oree. iMiiiciin-- 
l-'orlitications. l^lacinu" Obstructions in tlie 
Ri\er. Consiructii^i^- Roads. Deciding;- to Ke- 
miin and Make Uomc^. Sendin-; or.t Good He- 
p 'Mts \^) their Old I b)n1e^. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PIONEER LIKi:. 

vSacritlccs to be Made. I'ilgrini Fathers. Aroos- 
took Pioneers. First American Settlers Without 
Experience in Pioneer Life. Great Prisations. 
Without Proper Assistance in Sickness. Their 
Names to be Honored. 

CHAPTER V. 

ORIGINAL TITLE. 

In Massachusetts. District ol" Maine. Di\ ision in 
1 819. Plymouth Grant. Letter D. Letter D 
Plantation. Deed of Massachusetts to Plymouth, 
Turner and Holland. Deeds from Maine to Set- 
tlers in Letter D. 

CHAPTER \T. 

INCIDENTS Ol'^ TUl^ W \l<. 

The Drafted Militia Men. The First Trespassers 
Seen. First Camping Ground. Mr. Johnston 
Sends to Tobique, N. B., to Mill. The Capture 
of the Land Agent. Great Excitement in New- 
Brunswick. The United States and Great Brit- 
ain. Accidental Shooting of Nathan Johnston. 

CHAPTER VII. 

AROOSTOOK WAR IN HISTORY. 

A Serious and Perplexing Q^icstion. Patr'o'ic De- 
votion to Countr\- and Fl; g. Gieat D'stance 
from the Settled Part of the^Sta e. An Unbro- 
ken Wilderness. The Aro stoo'; \'eter .ns De- 
serve Well from the Stite. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CAPTAINS OF THE WAR. 

Capt. Rincs. Capt. Parrott. Capt. Towlc. Capt. 
Wino-. Capt.V^anNoss. Ma j. General Rickctts. 
Pao-e 68. 

CHAPTER IX. 

A PIONEER SETTLEMENT. 

Freeman Ellis. Dea. Fowler. Stevens. Powers. 
Haines. The First Post Office. Page 76. 

CHAPTER X. 

OIR PIONEER MOTHERS. 

Our Pilgrim Motliers. The Peculiar l^rixalions 
and Hardships of our .Vroostook Mothers. A 
Tribute to these Noble Women. Paire S^. 

CHAPTER XI. 

TOPOGRAPin' AND SOH.. 

The High Lands. The River X'allcy. The Soil. 
Professor Warrings. Water Supply. Page SS. 

CHAPTER Xll. 

IIAKOSIIIPS AND PRI\Ari<JNS. 

The Record Men Make. Condition of the Country. 
Discriptive Hardships. A Scanty Breakfast. 
"If the House is full nf Provision." A I'oys 
Experience. Page 95. 

CHAPTER Xlll. 

l.ooKIN(; I'.ALKW AUI). 

The Journe\- to the Aroostook. As We h^)und it 
in 1S43. "First effort at Hard Work. They Built 
Better Than Thev Knew. Page loo. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

LETTER D PLAISlTATlON. 

Representation Without Taxation. Going to 
Houlton to Vote. Organization of Letter D 
Plantation. Effect of the Election. Page 107. 

CHAPTER XV. 

PLANTATION MEETINGS. 

An Early Election. Party Line Strictly Drawn. 
The Good Effects of the Elections. ' The Ac- 
tive Workers. General Discussion, Page 114. 

CrL\PTER XVI. 

A MOOSE HUNT. 

Part}- Organized. Without ExpericiKc. The 

Moose Yard. The Moose. The First Shot. 

A Dead Moose. The Second Days Hunt. Page 
117. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

INTERESTING FACTS. 

Aroostook Prices. Love of Country. The First 
Justice of the Peace. Mails and P(-st Office. 
First Mail. First House. First Minister. 
First Church Organization. Page 125. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE FORT IX 1 84 3. 

Deep Snow. The Public House. A Large 
Company. The Onlv Store. List of Inhabi- 
tants. Page 135. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

WRITTEN RECORD. 

Board of Officers. A Collector Without Taxes to 
Collect. Page 129. 



History of fort fairfiei.d. 
CHAPTER XX. 

l<i:C()RI) COXTINUFI). 

Town Organization. l^)pulati()n ol' the New 
Town. Sarsctield Plantation. The Bridge. 
The Schools. Page 140. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

W ini'lKN HISTORY COXTIXl'i:!). 

Selectmen in 1870. Total \^iluation. Soldiers 
Funds. Selectmen in 1875. Assessments in 
in 1S7:;. Kailroad I)onds. Population in iSSo. 
Population in 1.S90. Page 146. 

CHAPTKR XXII. 

ACTS OF IXeOKPOKATION. 

Annexation of Sarselield. T^ridge Approjiriation. 
Page 155. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

FXTEIM'RISK. 

Looking Alter a Local Newspaper. Re\ , Daniel 
Stickne\. Tlu' Aurora. The Aroostook ^^alle^■ 
Sunrise. The Railroad. The First Train. The 
Formal Oj^iening. Page K^i^. 

CHAPTFR XXI\'. 

Til !•: I'o'lA'l'O I^DL"STK^ . 

First Starch I'^ictorw Yankee Enterprise. The 
Maple (iro\e Starch ^^actor\•. FlTects of the In- 
dustr\ , Page 170. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTL RE. 

Survey of" the Past. The Dispute. Compuin' of 
Troops. English Settlement. Character of the 
Settlers. A Bright Future. Page i7<:^. 
CHAPTER XXVI. 

FORT FAIRFIELD IX THE WAR. 

Political Leaders. Prompt to Act. Soldiers. Regi- 
ments. A Just Tribute. Page i86. 
CHAPTER XXVII. 

F I FT E E XT H M A I X E \l E G I M E X 'l\ 

An Aroostook Regiment. The Officers. x\t X^ew 
Orleans. In Florida. On the Rio Grande. 
Matagorda Island. Red Ri\er. Page 195. 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 

THIRTY-FIRST MAIXE REGIMENT. 

Capt. C. H. Ellis. Lieut. II. O. Perr)-. Spott- 
S3-lvania. North Anna. Ellis Wounded, (ireat 
Loss in Killed and Wounded. Page 207. 
CHAPTER XXIX. 

BUILDING MILLS. 

State Aid. First Mill. Starch Factor}-. Page 2 14. 
CHAPTER XXX. 

SCHOOLS OF FOirr FAIRFIELD. 

First School House. List of Teachers. Free 
High School. Page 229. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

SCHOOLS CONTIXUED. 

Free High Scho:>l in 1877. Hon. N. Fessenden 
Supervisor. Present High School. Page 239. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIR 1-II:LI). 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

ClIURCEIES. 
Tin-: CONCiREGATlONAL CHURCH. 

First Members. The Council. Union House. First 
Church. New Church. Rev.Mr.IIescock. Pa<i:e248 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

First in the Field. Present Pastor. Page 259. 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Bishop Neely. Mr. Washburn. Church Organ- 
ization. Present Missionai} Priest. Page 266. 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
fri:e p.aptist church. 
Organization. Pastors. Present Officers. Pres- 
ent Pastor. Page 26<^. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
regular baptist. 
Brief History. Deacon Foster. Page 270. 
CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 

Organization. Ilistor}'. Page 276. 
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE CATHOLIC CIIUKCH. 

First Church Built. Ilistor}-. Page 279. 

ciiAinM^:R XXXIX. 

HUSINESS mi:n. — Page 289. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTERS XL, XLI, XLIL 

PROFESSIONAL MEN. PageS 298, 3 I 2, 3I9. 

CHAPTER XLIII. 

sociE'i'iES. Page 325. 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

DEACON HIRAM STEVENS- 

Stc\ ens Lumber Compan}'. Page 334. 
CHAPTER XLV. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Capt. Pattee, 335. Hon. Jesse Drew, 337. Haines 
Family, 341. Wm. Johnston, 246. Gen. ^NLirk 
Traiton, 34S. Daniel Libb}-, Esq., 350. Amos 
Libbv, 351. Parsons Famil}-, 352. Capt. E. W. 
Waite, 358. A. S. Richards, 359. Rev. B. D. 
Eastman, 360. Otis Eastman, S. E. Phipps, 361. 
J. S. Averill, 362. Addison Powers, 363. Ellis 
Family, 364. C. H. Ellis, 366. A. P. Welling- 
ton, L. \'. Towle, 368. J. R. Thurlough, R. 
Powers, 369. W. Houghton, W. E. Parsons, 
370. Rollins Family, 375. Flanner\- Family, 
B. F. Durgin, 376. J. Nichols, Washington Long, 
377. John Dorsey, Charles R. Paul, Mrs. A. C. 
Paul, Joseph Findland, 378. S. W. Cram, Jos. 
Conant, 379. G. W. Hilton, L. K. Cary, Dea. 
Daniel Foster, 380. J. B. Robbins, G. E. Cald- 
well, 381. Capt. Putnam, R. L. Baker, Cum- 
mings, Slocomb, Osborne, Collins, Bishop, Sterl- 
ing, Richardson, Gordon, Spooner, Qrcutt, Fish- 
er, 382. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS- 



The Author, FnMUispiccC 1/ 

Fort Fairfield in 1843, i-a.ii.- pa-,- -15 ^ 

The Upper Bloek House, '" "' .>.U 

The Collins House, '" " ^^. 

The High Sehool Br.ileii.i:, '" " 4.i. 

The Windsor llc^tel, "" " 5.^^ 

Hopkins Brothers' Bi.ilding. " " ^W 

Joseph Pearee's Bloek, ' " 7X 

Street \'ie\v, Goodhue's l>loek, *' '* 8_:5 » 

Aroostook \'alle\ Slaieh kaetc-iy, " " ^"^3.. 

E. L. Houghton's Potato Harvest, " " 9.V 

Street View from Leader Cjffiee, ' " 103^ 

Foss' Potato House, Street View, " *' 113'' 

Interior Goodhue's )ewelr\ Store, '* " i^y 

f. l'>. Williams' Bloek, " " KU^ 

Cutts and Seates' l)loek, '* " K^^ i 

William Small and Co.'s Store, "' " ^43 

The Congregational Chureh, " "' ^53 

The Methodist p:piseopal Chureh. •■ - KM, 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



The Northern Leader Office, 
Mr. L. K. Cjuy's Residence, 
Mr, E. E. Scales' Residence, 
Mr. E. L. Houghton's Residence, 
Hon. W. E. Parsons' Residence, 
Mr. C. C. Rogers' Building, 
Mr. Geo. L. Foss and Fearless, 
Mr. Almon S. Richards, 
Dea. Hiram Siexens, 
Hon. Henry O. Perry, 
Hon. W. E. Parsons, 
Mr. Henr)- A. Haines, 
Mr. R. L. Baker, 
Mr, Joseph Conant, 
Hopkins Bro.'s Barn. 



Facing page 


173 ^ 


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193^' 


i.i .k 


203^ 


U u 


213V 


a u 


223 V 


u u 


223V 


.. 


^-2>?>-^ 


ii. <.i 


243 V 


ik ;i 


253V 


(.(, a 


263 V 


a a 


273V 


U (.i 


283^ 


. a a 


293 V 


u u 


?>o?,- 



HISTORY OF 

FORr FAIRriFLLl). 



CllAin'FR I. 

LOCATION. 

Tn ijS.:; pc.uc w.is ckvlarctl Ix'twccn CJivat Brit- 
ain aiul the- tliirtc.'ii unite,! C(;l():iic.-. and ihc Fnilccl 
States became a nation. 

The St. Croix rixer became a part ol' its ea.stein 
boi'.ndary. At its b.eadwaters a monument was 
erected under the treaty oi" 17^4. and tlie boundary 
line was to run due north to tlie hi-hhmdsi but 
wliether to the lii--hhinds between the waters ol" the 
St. Lawrence and the waters that run south, oi" be- 
tween the waters of the St. Jolui and lVnobsc<U 
rivers, subseiiuently became a i]uesti(Mi for dispute. 

1>\- tlie terms ol'this treaty a territory nearly as 
lar-e as the tixe New l-ji-land states, and iyin- 
east ol" the State ol" New Hampshire and known as 
the District of Maine, was oruani/.ed as a part ol 
the State of Massaciiusytts. 



26 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

The lirst legislation that materially affected the 
interests of this territory was the action of the 
Massachusetts General Court, by which large grants 
of land were made, to aid local e;iterprises. Among 
these was a grant to the town of Plymouth of thir- 
tN-six square miles,. This grant was run out by 
Park Holland, a State surveyor, in 1806, who was 
ordered to proceed to the monument upon the 
headwaters of the St. Croix river, and to run due 
north fifty miles, and then surve\' a township of 
land six miles square, which was to be given to the 
town of Plymouth to aid in building a breakwater 
to protect their harbor. Soon after establishing the 
soutlie;ist corner of thj township, Mr. Holland dis- 
co\ered ( if he was not the hrst disco\erer ) tlie 
Aroostook river, and in running out this township 
he crossed the ri\ er four times. 

We are imable, with any degree of reliability, to 
tix the date of the first settlement in the present 
town of Fort Fairfield. 

Michael Russel was undoubtedly the tirst to lo- 
cate. His settlement was upon the south side of 
the Aroostook ri\er, a short distance this side of 
the boundary line, and within tb.e limits of Hol- 
land's surxey of Phmouth (xrant. 

fames FitzHerbert is gi\en tlie credit of being 
the next settler. He located at the mor.th of the 
brook, kn(n\ n on Sawyer's svrvey of Letter I), 
]<Hng<; \> ;ts Fir^^Iierbert's brpjk. f'^v next, v 



HISTORY OK FORT FAIRFIELD. 



tlic same side ol" the ri\ or, was John Dorscy, and 
the next I^enjaniin \W'eks, who located at the 
mouth ol' what is known hv the above-named sur- 
\ e\-, as Johnston's Brook. We know ol" no reason 
lor ijivinii: their location in the order named, except 
it would be natural to take the tirst vacant land 
when one was so I'ar from ci\ ili/.ation. These set- 
tlers, toi^ether with others farther up the ri\ er, were 
here early in the twenties, if not before 1S20. Be- 
fore i^i.^o, Benjamin McLauigjhlin J. William 
A\'hite, Samuel Daxenport, William Lo\ely, Alex- 
ander McDouoald, Peter Fowler. Margaret Doyle, 
John Twaddle and William 'i\n-ner had all set- 
tletl aloni;: the river banks, and \er\' soon alter 
Anthoin- Kean. Daniel Turner. 'I'homas Suther- 
land. David r.urtsell. J. \V. White, Charles Wal- 
ton. William I^ishop. Amos Bishop, Daniel 
Bishop, Daniel McLauij^hlin, Martin Murray, 
Thomas \Vhittakcr, Robert Whittaker, Thomas 
Rollers and James Ro<j^ers. Belbre 1S40, Thomas 
Amsden. James Campbell, James Cjui_ii«i"e}-, Justis 
(iraw |()se]-)h Davenport. Richard McCarty. Thos. 
(iibner. Thomas l^oulier. job Fxerett, John Loxely. 
Patrick k'inlaml, ])a\id luiber. L'harles Buber. 
William lloulton and William I'pton. had all 
made settlements upon the banks of the ri\ er. with- 
in what is now the town of l-'ort b^iirt'ield. Ben- 
jamin Weeks had ert'cted a laiuer and moie sub- 
stantial house upon the beautii'ul site nnw <)ccui">ied 



iS 



iiis'VOU\ OK I'OKT KAii^i-i i:i.n. 



hv Mr. Thomas .V. l^^ishcr's line residence. In that 
Near he exclianoed his propertx' witli \\"illiam John- 
ston for a farm at the head of the "Reach," npon 
which he located in 1S34 or iN:^:;. 

.\t the time Mr. Johnston came to the Aroostook, 
his brother-in-hiw, Thomas Sutherhmd. was loca- 
ted near the mouth ol' LcncK' brook, as known hv 
the sur\e\" alread\' reCerred to. and their l"amil\- re- 
lations had much to do with the spotted line and 
rcmowal of the underbrush to the head of the 
Reach, that afterwards became a regular portage, 
and shortenino- the distance man\- miles from the 
i-i\er line. His brother, Lewis Johnston, was then 
lixing upon the north side of the ri\er, nearl\- op- 
posite tlie mouth of the Presque Isle stream. 

I^p to 1S38 the principal business open to the 
settlers and depended upon b\' them for a living, 
was cutting the pine trees and manufacturing them 
into square timber and floating them down the riv- 
er to Frederickton and St. John, from whence they 
were shipped to England to su]T]^1\- their lumber 
market. 

In iSjo M:iinL- became an iiulejiendent stale, and 
the (juestion ol" her northeastern boundar\- began to 
be agitated. As the fact became generalU' known 
that lumber was being taken from her public lands 
and being shipped to a foreign market, dissatisfac- 
tion increased, until the breaking out of hostilities 
in 1839. ^ 



llls■|■()U^ ()i- I'oirr iwiu i-i i:i.i). 



^9 



'This, lor a lime, c'lu'ckcd tlu-ir InisiiU'ss. hut as 
tlu'\" \voi\' lu-arU all cli-pcmU'iU upon it for the 
support of their families. the\- sueeee:K'cl in exadiiiLi" 
the hoom that had been placed across the ri\er, and 
the aii'ents sent to watch o\ er and pre\ ent trcspass- 
inL;\ 

These carl\- settlers nearl\- all came (Vom homes 
on the St. Jolm ri\ er and recognized no authorit\- 
except tiiat deri\ed from the Kno-Jish crown. 
Some oC them held tlieir land hv patents derixed 
i'rom that authoritv, wliile others were located and 
claimed their ri^ius under the since popular, but to 
them, unknown doctrine of" scpiatter so\ereio-nt\\ 

Such was the situation and conchtion, when, in 
iS:>S, (Jo\ernor I'^iirfield sent an a^ent to look o\er 
tlie situation and report as to the lunibei' operations 
that were bein^- carried on b\- l^i'ox inci d lumber- 
men. And the conditions remained unchann'cd, 
when, in h\'bruary, i<>t,<^), Land-A^-ent Mclnt\rc 
with his posse of Maine militia-men, arri\ed upon 
the scene. At tliat time the onl\ ti-a\elled roads 
in Aroostook count\' weie' a load from l^atten to 
Masardis. the militar\- road Irom Mallaw amkea^" to 
I loulton. and a road as I'ai" noilh as Monticello. 
Roads had aNo been cut anions' the trees, throuiih 
which a sled could iu' hauled IVom the St. John 
ri\er to h'it/. I b-rbeii's lirook. and from the mouth 
of Lo\el\ brook to the head of the l\each. The 
one. to L'scaiH- the Aroostook lalls and rapids, and 



30 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



the other to sliortcii the distance oi' the o^reat bend 
in the ri\ er. 

So i'ar as business or social rehitions were con- 
cerned, these people were as completelx' isolated 
from all parts of our State, as an\- of tlie inhabi- 
tants oi" the northeastern part of our sister Pro- 
\ince. And not until the posse and troops had 
been followed h\ actual settlers, and h :)mjs had 
been made and social relations i'ormed. was it 
possible for the prejudice, that the polic\- toward 
their trespass upon tlie lumber had caused, to 
be removed. ■ 

The coming- of t!ie posse and the Ignited States 
troops, and the polic\' adopted in re^'ard to tres- 
pass timber, created a prejudice that required the 
coming- of actual settlers, the makino- of homes, 
the forminii" of social relations, and intcrmarriao'c 
to wholl\- remo\e. The promptness with which 
their descendants responded to "Father Abraham's" 
call for ''300,000 more" obliterated the last parti- 
cle of prejudice, and united this yountr and strug- 
oling- communit\- in social and loyal mass, with 
one countr\- and one flai;\ 

While ?srassachusetts had asserted her rights to 
the northeastern territory, bv making a survey and 
o-rantino- lands north and west of the monument 
at the headw.iters of the St. Croix river, the 
lai\ii-uao-e oi' the lreat\- oi' 1794 and the interpre- 
tation <j,i\en it b\- parties occujnino- different 



HISTORY Oy FORT I-'AIRFIELD. 



31 



st:r.v.lp;)ints. li:r.l li'ixc;"! risj to considerable rcclinii; 
between the inhabitants of Maine and tli(,se of 
the j")ro\inee of New Bianiswiek. In I'aet it was 
difficult to leconcile the wordin"^- (jf the treaty 
with e.\islin^" concbtions. 

And wlien we conic to coiisidei" the embittered 
1'eebnLis that would naturalh' L:,row out of two 
\N ars, we shall not be surprised at the readiness 
that existed to resist the tn-st act of a!4"<^'ression. 

It was enough Toi- the inhabitants ol Maine to 
ki-:</W that tb.e j^ir.e timber was beini^' cut \vi m th.e 
public lapids aixl run d( wn the i"i\er to tb.e KnLjli.^h 
market. 

Jhe (|uestion as to nnIio was tloinii," it. was not 
taken into consideration. Tlu' Tact aloiu' that tb.e 
]^r.)\ i'.K-ial i;" )\ crnnK-it coaLl ilirectU' or indirect- 
1\ Ik- m idi' a )iai"t\" to the tiM nsa jtion was enough 
I.) call for arm, 'J resist. laje. 

As soon as tlie but became lidK established, 
that lumbering" opei"ations were beinu" carrietl lor- 
ward, the entire inhabitance ol" the State were 
aroused to open I'esistar.ce. 

A di'alt was made rj")on the Stiite militi.i and the 
dralled men w ei"e iirom]">tl\- sent to aia-est the 
ti'espassers and take- jiossession ol the cbsjnited 
tenitor\' in the nameot" the State. 

This action as a matter ol cor.rse arouseil the 
people in New i^rimswick, and the sentiment bc- 
CM^iK' iivnernl, that I'orce shor.ld be met w ith Inrcr, 



IILSTORY OF FORT FAIRFIEJ.D. 



The land a'^'cnt, who was anioni;- tlic first upon 
the ground, was arrested and taken to Frederiek- 
ton. The militia men fell baek as far as INIasar- 
dis. 

The State sent forward additional men, and a 
stand was made upon the bank of the Aroostook 
ri\ er s;)me six miles from a proN ineial settlement 
upon the St. John ri\ er. 

Acti\e preparations were made to stop the 
euttino- and hauling- of tlie timber, and to pre\ent 
that alreadx' eut I'rom being taken to market. 

vSo()n after the arri\al of tlie last ol' the drafted 
men, an order was reeei\ ed to muster out the en- 
tire foree, and enlist Nolunteers. who in addition to 
bearing arms, should engage in sueh manual labor 
as the State reipiired of them. 

I^pon the arrixal of this militar\- loree in the 
winter ol 1S39, tlie\- found aeti\e lumbering o]:)er- 
ations g(ung on along tlie banks of ihe Aroostook 
ri\er for se\eral miles abo^ e th.e mouth ol" tlie 
Prescjue l,->le, aiul i'rom the towr.shijxs ol" letter C 
(Easton) and Mars Hill, pine timber was hauled 
to the St. John ri\er in New I^runswiek. 

The work ol buikli ng a boom aeross the Aroos- 
took ri\er was eommenced, and seouting parties 
were sent out to arrest trespassers and eonhseate 
their teams and supplies. 

The position oeeupied h\ these soldiers was of 
•a most embarassiiii-- nature. Their mission here. 




THE UPPER BLOCKHOUSE. 




THE COLLINS HOUSE. 



IIIS•1•()K^ ()|- I'-OKT KAII< i-ii;i,i). 



was to break up tin- Inisiiu'ss of llu'sc settlers, ami 
hv so cloin'4" to tlestroN theii" li\inL;'. W liile it was 
neither expected noi" c1esii"able to cli"i\e tJK'in Iroiii 
their homes, their presence was a constant menace. 
'I'heir abilit\ t > ,Lii\ c inl'oiaiiation to our enemies, 
and the almost positi\e assurance that their s\ni- 
path\- would le.id them to do so, toL:,ether with the 
]')()ssibilit\ that a lai'^e armed lorce was neai" at 
hand, kept up a constant unrest on the part ol the 
soldierw 'To-dax' it can onl\' be looked upon as 
a m\stei"\. that untlei" such circumstances, actual 
hostilities did not lead to bloodshetl alon^- the 
entiix- bordei". 

The di'art«.'d men consist».'d of two distinct 
classes. One, and the larger class, home cares 
and rcsj-jonsibilitii-s macU' their soldii-i" life most 
distasteiul, and il was a happ\ da\ w hen tlu' oriler 
I'ame for iheir tlischar^e. 'i'he olhei- cla-^s (.1" 
actixc, entei"prisin<4-, fearless nouul;- men wore only 
too i!,lad to e.xchaiiLie their jiresent jiosition ioi" 
more work and bettei" pa\' in the \ olunteer sei'\ ice. 

or the second class there was all and more than 
the state reijuired to canx forward the work to a 
siicccssfid termination. ■' 



34 HISTORY OF FORT FzMRFIELD. 



CHAPTER III. 

Pi: R MA NEXT POSSE.SSIOX. 

The organizaticMi of a military workino- force 
was the carrxin^- out of tlie phm to hold possession 
of the disputed territorx'. As soon as fortifications 
were established, and formal possession taken in 
the name of the State, the \ olunteer forces were 
employed in constructing- a road through the wil- 
derness to connect them with the United States 
forces, stationed at Hancock barracks, in Houlton. 

The township lying south of the one in which the 
fortitications were erected, belonged to ^^lassachus- 
setts, and for the double purpose of passing oyer 
land owned hv the State and keeping as far as pos- 
sible from the St. John riyer, from which point 
annoxing forces could be sent out, the road was 
laid out in a south of west direction to Presque Isle. 
.ifi'] IVom t!ierc to Monticr.llo and Jloulton. 



iiis'iom oi- r^oiri' F.\ii^i'ii;f.n. 



,V^ 



This road throiiijli its entire distance passed over 
\al liable sctlliiiLi" lands, co\ ered with a hea\ \' 
growth of tiinhei-. with a rich, allmial soil, upon 
which the \e^etablc mould olages had supplied a 
^•ast amount of plant food. The great contrast be- 
tween this and the roek\-, sterile and ora\ell\- land 
of the southern portion of the State was a constant 
reminder to these men of the possibilities of this 
new land: and as the work of construction pro- 
gressed. nian\- a choice piece ol land was selected 
for a luture home. And these men. together with 
those who came through their intUiencc and i\'pre- 
sentations, comprised largeK" the pioneer settlers 
of this and adjoining towns. 

In the surve\- of Letter I). Range i (the south 
lialf of f^ort Fairtield). the land along this road 
was cut up into lots with onl\- eight\' rods frontage, 
so as to gi\ e the largest possible number of settlers 
a chance for location. 

As a matter of course, this was the lirst located 
and settled land in the town, except that bordering 
on the .\roostook rixer. 

It ma\- well be claimed that the \ olunteer forces 
were the actual pioneers, and to them more than 
all others is due tlu- credit of bringing to its full 
fi"uition. the second stage of impi"o\ I'ment — actual 
settlement. In 1S4J all the land in this town along 
the road had been t ikcn up. and among these st'l- 
tlei's were found the names ol" Jonathan 1 lopkinson. 



36 



^lSTOR^ OF FORT FAIRFIELD, 



Daniel F'alnior, \ycn'j. I), and Otis P^astman, — Brag- 
don. Lc\i 1 lo\l. ^Villiam. Onin and K. P. AVhitncy, 
luluMrd lohnslon, L'hasc, Hunt, Tucker, Lyons, 
Iloulton, W'in^", PaUcc, A\^iitc and l^icliaids. 

The Nolunteer iorcc had been succeeded l)y a 
conipaiu' of United States Ifoops and a building" 
(the sanu- that is now occupied In J)r. Deckei") 
was erected I'or olbcers' (juarters, and the lou.n- 
dation realK' laid for the ]")i-es(.-nt \ iihii^c of h^»rt 
l^^airlield. 

'IMie \\'ebstei--Asliburton ti-eat\ liad Ik'cu ratified, 
tlie commissioners appointed to run the boundar\" 
bne:andin the summer of i S.p^, the I'nited States 
troops were withdrawn and the ]^ropert\' phiced in 
chai\ij,"e of (General Mark Ti-afton. who had been 
appointed a custom liouse olllcer for the phice. 

Tile boom which had been placed in the ri\ er 
to hold ti-espass timber, had been sold to a com- 
]-)an\- chartered b\- the I British Parliament and re- 
moN ed to the mouth of the Aroostook in Xew 
Tirunswick tor the peacelul purpose oC holdiuLi,- the 
lumber, so that it could be made up into rafts be- 
lore it was run down the St. John ri\er to market. 

A dam had been built across the Fitzhcrbcrt 
brook and a sawmill erected, the llrm of Pattcc 
and Ilaxwood lormed. a store opened arid a house 
built, and the new enterprise christened the "lower 
village." 

The N'ouni*" men w ho had come for war. bcf^'an 



HISTORY Ol'^ lORl' FAIR FI I.I.I). 



to ciii^aii'C in the peaceful enterprise of securing- 
wi\es aiul niakin<j,' hnnu's. ami oF this elass the 
names of \\'hitne\-. Sle\ ens. W'aile anil l^irhai'ds. 
(leserxe a in-oniinent position. 

W'itli the remo\ al of tlu' soldiers in the summer 
ol i^-\T, the transition was eomi")lete; the war i\'eor(l 
liad elosed and the openini4' up ol the new settle- 
ment was I'ulK- established. The land lotted out was 
in the hands of local aLi'ents ; permits lor enttini;" 
timber were i^ranletl hv the State and stumpai^'e 
eolleeled. 

And the reports sent out b\ t;ie settlers brought 
man\ additions to llieir numltir. 



^8 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PIONEER LIFE. 

From the landing of our Pilgrim leathers upon 
the rock-bound coast of New England until the 
present time, the sturdy, persevering, sell-sacritic- 
ing pioneer, whether seeking freedom to worship 
God, laying a broader foundation for a mightv em- 
pire, strengthening political freedom, or seeking 
a home for self and lo\"ed ones, has had privations, 
hardships and sufferings that make him worthv of 
praise and admiration. .Vnd those who laid the 
foundation for our beautiful, prosperous Aroostook 
homes, deserve as a record of their heroic deeds a 
monument more enduring then the imperishable 
rocks of the everlasting hills. The heroes of 1840 
who started out on a six to ten davs' journey, four of 
which were into an almost unbroken wilderness, 
and who pitched their camps a full one hundred 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



39 



and sixtv-scvcii miles Ironi llic base of supplies, 
ha\ e ncarK all tinishcd their work, and e\ehan,ued 
the comforts and blessings of homes secured by 
their sturd\ toil, for the rest and blessini^^s of the 
unseen land. Amoni;- those deservinLi" (if not the 
most deser\ inu) ol' mention in this class, are Le\ i 
Iloyt, Jonathan Ilopkinson. William Whitney. 
Daniel Palmer, Ik'njamin and Otis Eastman, Henry 
C. Currier, K. P. Whitney, Hiram Stevens, Free- 
man Ellis, Jr., Edward S. Fowler, Isaac F. Ellis, 
Addison Powers, and Leonard Spotjner. 

The coming- of these men introduced a new ele- 
ment into the then northeast settlement. Those 
here before them had located upon the banks of the 
ri\er, and were almost as nuicli at liome in the 
swift-ulidinLi- canoe as upon solid land. '1 imber 
was cut upon the shores; and takinu" it to the mar- 
ket, and the return home w itli the fruits ol then- 
toil, had relie\ed them of much of the toil and pri- 
vations that were to be the lot and experience ol 
th.jse who came from other walks in life, and lo- 
cated .iwa\ iV.mi the riser, in the deep, dense for- 
est. I . ■" u.i \' h>)mes and f.irms pon new land from 
wiiich their labor and toil cleared awa\ the lorest, 
to raise the bread for their youn^" and dependent 
families. The clearing of the land was a work 
that is hard to be understood from any point ol ob- 
servation attainable at the present day. Three and 
often four ila\>' work w a^ leciuireil l'.» I'ali the trecb 



40 ULSTOKY rOKT FAlRFlliLl). 

lij^on a single acre, and op.c da\" more to 'do]-) ihc 
limbs'" ol'l" t!ic fallen trees so as to seer.re a tn.cd 
burn, d'rees eut down in June and )u!\ were ill 
l^repared to burn hv the last of AuL;"ust, or tirst of 
Sej^tember, but if left be\<)nd that time there \\as 
danii,"er of i'all rains, and a loss of a \\diole \ear be- 
fore the land could be ]^repared for crops. \\ ith 
small choppiniis, "oid\' ti\ e acres in an opening"" 
for the uncertain bi"ee/es o1 an .\ui;aist or Septem- 
ber dav to stir up the hre, it was tlie rule to ii;et, if 
iiot to expect, a \ er\- poor burn, often no moi'c than 
to burn the lea\ es and twin's and blacken the tim- 
ber, and 1 ha\ e seen more tlian one instance w hen 
that was onl\ partialK' done. 

Then as much more work from these inexperi- 
enced men was taken to cut these trees into suita- 
ble len^-ths to be hauled t()i;-ether iu "'piles" for 
burnin<4". Then ihrt-e nu-n ;ind a \-okt^ of oxen 
could be \ er\- l)us\' from early morning to late at 
e\e in hauling together, picking up and getting 
read\- to burn the "heaps." Then a little waiting 
lor them to dr\- and for the wind to blow, and the 
tires were set; then c.ime the stirring up and rolling 
tou-ether of lo<>-s, the smoke and he:it extending far 
into the night; then the waiting for the lires to go 
out, the heap beds to get cold; then came the haul- 
ing off of the brands, and the land was ready for 
the seed and harrow. The ages of the deca} ing 
leaves had ibrmed a thick vegetable mould upon 











4 r...:-..sESi]i 



si 



iiisroio ()i- i()i<r i-.\iK' I ii:i.i>. 



IIk' L^rouiul that i:a\ c food to the l;i(,\\ in^- ci'ops. and 
thi' hcaits of thr hoiu'sl loihTs and ihrii' Tainilirs 
were ch.eeietl b\ the rapid I \ ^K'wini;' ei( ) ^>. I nil 
the \ ast, dense forest shutting- or.l the Ileal and si;n- 
liuhl b\ 0:\\\ sent out a cold aiul ehillinLi" air liy 
niLilu. that, settling upon these small elearinij^s. oft- 
en bronchi the sad experienee ol an August frost 
to blight their hopes ol' an abundant erop, and 
doom them to another \ear ol' frost-bitten ^rain, 
which, after passim^- throu^li the primitixe mills ol 
that da\ , brought forl'i a ]iro'.lnetion that bore about 
the same relation to tlie beautiful '•Snowllake 
or "L'alla LilK" roller ]iatent of to-day. that the 
darkest son ol" luhiojiia does to the fairest daughter 
olthe Anulo-Saxon race. And it was not always 
that e\ en such fare as that could be obtained in suf- 
licieiit (]uantit\-. Mone\ could not alwa\s be had. 
even to pa\- the postage on a lon^ desired letter. 
A well buik Iol;- house, plain clothing- and simple 
substantial food, w .is a most desirable if not a sat- 
isfactor\' condition. 

^Vi1ile there were hardships, piaxations and ex- 
posure, often, to cold and stoiaii. sickness was eom- 
))arati\el\ unknown, aside IVom thai incitlenl lo the 
new-boin. that held no mean I'lace in the additions 
to our increasiuLi' po|-)ulation : and then some moth- 
erl\" woman, w ith an experience Liaincd by lorce ol 
circumstances, mounted ijpon a horse led by some- 
u:\j. lanlern in hand, alonj^ a bridle path or spotted 



44 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



line throui^-h the wood, succcssfiilh- rilled the plaee 
of an experienced M. D. AVith the exception of 
the United States surgeon who was here with the 
company of United States Infantr\- and left in ]u\\\ 
1843, there was no regular physician and surgeon 
nearer than Iloulton, and the roads were so bad it 
would ha^"e been a remarkable ieat to get a doctor 
from there in twentv-four hours. This state of 
things continued for nearl\- ten years, and it was 
not imtil 1 858 that a pinsician came who recei\ed 
suHicient encouragement to remain and l)uild up a 
practice. 

The great distance to mirket, necessitating ex- 
pensi\e transportation, added in a great measure 
to the otherwise alnijst insurmountable obstacles 
that were to be oxercome. But these braxe men 
and women were equal to the task. They oyer- 
camc eyery obstacle, they made for thcmsehcs 
comfortable homes, they built up a s^•stem (.f 
schools for their children, that laid t!ie fcr ndatio: 
for useful and influential li\es. As the fallin;:' of 
the trees and clearing awa}- the forest let i t^' < 
sunlight and warmth, their ind\ str ,;c*sc- . 
and integrity laid a moral and social Fo ii^^at' 
the intelligence, happiness and prosperity o^' the 
present. 

Wisely they selected, d^'ligently tliey ]:)la -te , 
and broadcast sowed upon a rich and fertile soiJ. 
And while wc gather from their imperishable har- 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 45 



\ csl. it is meet and i-i<;lit that wo remember their 
noble \v()i-k, and raise U) their memur\- monuments 
ol praise. 



4^^ 



IIIS'r()l^\' FORT FAIRFUCLI). 



ciiafi7:r \'. 

T]\\: ()i^i(;ixAi. rnij:. 

'J'hc title to all the laiul in l'^)rt 1-^iii-hcltl came 
ori^inalh' iVoni ^ilassachusetts. Pre\ ions to i (S u) 
Maine was the District of ?vfaine and a ]^ait of 
Massachusetts. 

}une i()th. i(Src). the legislature ol" that state 
jiassed an act, i-elatin^- to the sepai'ation ol the 
District of Maine IVoni Massacluisetls projH'i', and 
foi'mini;' llu- same into a se-paiate' and iiuk-pendent 
state, when it should be accejUed h\ the jK'ople ol 
Maine. At that time all the public- lands in Aroos- 
took counl\-, as well as in othcf counties in the 
State, except such as had been pi-e\ iousK' con- 
\e\ed or contracted Tor b\- parties with Mass- 
achusetts, were e(piall\' di\ ided between the two 
states. In that di\ ision of the land between 
Massachusetts and AFaine, townsldp 1) and alter- 



IIISIORN ()|- |-()|<|' I'AIK I Ii:i.|). 



-\ 



wards Letter 1) l^Iantalion, and now the southern 
hall of l'^)rt h^iiiiirld. became the j)i()]^L'i-t\- of 
Maine, and !)ein^- an cxeellent tow nship. suitable 
for settlenii'nt, was set apart in accordance with 
the laws ol'the State to be sold to aete.a.l settlers. 

The township of PKmonth ha\ in^^ at an earlier 
da\- been Li'ranted to the town of l^lxmoiith. Mass- 
achusetts. b\- the lenislatui'e. was con\e\ed in 
iSo- to that town b\- deed. 'I'he lollowino- is a 
tiaie cop\'. and will increase in interest as the 
\ears i-'o hv. 



'nii; i)i:i:i). 

'i'o all people to whom these pi'csents shall come. 
Hreetin^-: W'heieas. the Legislature of the common- 
wealth ol" Massachusetts, did ii,rant to tiie town of 
I^lemouth. a township of land b\- a resohe bearing- 
date tin- I'oui-lh da\ of March. ei^lUeen hundred 
and six. 

Xow. therelore know \"e. that we whose names 
ai'e undt-rsiLi'ned, and seals a.fhxed, appointed 
Agents by the (leneral Court of (."ommonwealth 
aforesaid, by a ResoKe passed the ril'teenth da\ of 
March t-i^hleen huncli-ed and lixt'ilo make and ex- 
ecute coin exences. antl b\ \ irtue ol" olhei" j'xtw ers 
Nested in us by the same and oilur Jvesoixcs: do 
b\' these pri'SL-nls in behall' ol' said Commonwealth, 
assi^'n. relinquish, and (piitclaim unto the town of 
l^lymouth, to be b\ them holden in tlu-ir corporate' 
capacity, lor the use of said low n. all the li^ht. 
title, and interest of said Commonwealth, in and 
unto a track of land Kinu- in the countx' of Wash- 



4S HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



ington, CMjiial to the contents of six miles square as 
the same was sur\ e\ed b\' Charles Turner, Junior, 
Esquire, in the ^•ear eighteen hundred and se\en. 
Hounded as follows, viz.: Beginning- at a beech 
tree marked S. K. C P. standing on the eastern 
h()undar\ line of the District ol Maine. filt\'-ll\e 
inih-s noi-th of the soni'ce ol the Schoodie \\ alers, 
aiul I'linning north, thirteen degrees east, six miles 
to a lir trc-c marked sixtN-one miles, thence run- 
ning west thii'lecn degrees noi'th, six miles to a 
stake, thence running soutli thirteen degrees west, 
six miles to a maple tree marked S. W. L". P., 
t'lencc running east thirteen degi'ces south, six 
miles to the beech ti'ce lli'st mentioned, together 
with all the islands in those parts of the .\roostook 
ri\er which are included within the aforesaid 
bounds, together with all the pri\ileges and ap- 
purtenances, thereto belonging, excepting and re- 
ser\ing for the use ol Commonwealth, and as a 
common highwa\' torc\ er, the maiii channel of 
said ri\er .Vroostook in its course through the said 
township, containing twent\"-three thousand and 
f()rt\- acres, including the ri\cr .Vroostook running 
through the saiue, as it will more fulh' appear on 
a plan of said township, now lodged in the office 
ol the aforesaid agents. 

To ha\e and to hold, the aforegranted premises, 
to the said town of PUmouth, or their assigns, 
fore\"er, on conditions howexer that the s:iid 
(Trantees, or their assigns, shall la\' out and con- 
\e\' to each settler, who settled on said track be- 
fore the tirst da\" of January, seventeen hundred 
and eighty-four, one hundred acres of land (in 
ca-;e of the settlers decease without assignment. 



iiisi'oKN oi' I'OKr i'aii<i"ii:li). 



49 



then to the heirs, and in case of assisi^nment tlie:i 
to the assii^Mis ), to Ik- laid out so as best to include 
the inijiroN enients of the setllei'. and 1k' least, in- 
jurious to the adjoining- land, and that the\- shall 
settle in said, tract, t\vent\- I'aniilies within six \ ears, 
ineluchnu" those now settled lhei"eon, and that the\' 
shall la\" out in said townshij-) three lots ol" three 
hundred and twenl\ acres each. Cor the lollowini^' 
uses, \ i/.. : 

"One lot I'or the use of the niinistr\', one lor the 
lirst settled minister, his heirs and assi^^ns, and one 
lot lor the use ol" schools in said ti'act. the said lots 
to a\ ei"auc in situation and (|ualit\ with the other 
land in said township, to ha\ e and to hold the 
aToi'dirantetl pi'eniises to the said town of PKniouth 
or theii" assigns, on the coiK'itions and reser\ atioi^.s 
aforesaid, lore\ er. 

In testiniouN" \\ liereof, we hereunto set our hand 

and seal, this nineteentli d:i\' of Dcceniber, ciLi-hteen 

hundred and seven. 

lonx Read, f ) 

<.. ., I,, s. 

W >i. S.Mrrii. ( ( 

Si*j^ned, sealed and deli\ered in presence ol r.s: 

GliORGE AV. Coi'l-lX, 
MOSKS (iRKiiMJCAK. 

Si TKoi.K, ss, Hosrox, it)th Dec., 1S07. 

Aeknowletliied before Joseph Maw justice of 
the Peace. Commonwealth ol" M;issachusetts,I.ar.d 
Otlice, Boston, 12th Jan., 1S46. 

This certifies that tlie fore_ii"oin<4- Deed is a true 
copy oTthe record in tliis otlice, as fountl in Book 
Xo. 3, I^i<4e 27:5. 

Attest: (ii:oi<(,i. W. c'oiriN, 

Land A ^ent lor Mass. 



50 



IILSTOIO' ()]■■ I'OR'l" FAIl-iFIIilJ). 



Wliilc the deed sets forth that Charles Mhirner, 
Jr., made tlie sl!r^■e^^ there are well ;itt(.'sted ih)en- 
nients showing- tliat it was made b\ Park Ilolland, 
and it is to be inferred, tha.t whik' Mr/fiirnei- is the 
recQu-ni/cd autliorilw he tlepiitized J*ark IJelland, 
and that he realh' did tlie work. 

In 1S54 Kbene7,er Ilutehinson, L'liark's R. Whid- 
dtjn and Stephen B. Pattee were appointed eoni- 
missioners to set off kind to settkn^s who were in 
the township at th.e time oi' the A\"ebster-.\sh- 
burton treat\- in i(S_}.2, the kind to inehide tlieir im- 
pro^ ements; similar to the aet of Congress to cpiiet 
settlers on t!ie publie land. 

AVe are unable to hnd an\- dates b\' whieh we 
can determine whether the town of Phmouth set- 
tled the speeial number of settlers upon the town- 
ship or reserAed and deeded the lots to the minis- 
tr\' and schools. 

This township at an earl\- dac passed into the 
h;inds oF proprietors who ap]")ointcd an ai^ent, lotted 
the land, and from them came the title deeds to 
settlers. 

In so much ol' the towii as was included in Let- 
ter D township, the settlers receixed their titles di- 
re Jth' from thj SL.itc. 



HISTORY OF lOK I- I A I K FIELD. 



5.? 



lii.\i^tI':r \i. 

i.\ei!)i:xis ()!• i-iii-: w ak. 
The lirst ck'tacliiiK'nt of ihc c]i';ilu-tl Maine iiiili- 
ti.i-nicii ba\ iii<4" ariMxcd al Masarclis. llicx' coni- 
nicnccd their march down ihc Aroostook ri\ cf up- 
on the ice, to more acti\ e scenes of ()i')ei'ation. It 
was not until llie/ \\a'i\- a lew mik's abo\ i- the 
m nith of I'le I're^que Isle sti'eam tliat the lir.st tres- 
pissers were disjo\ered, and then not until lea\inL;" 
the woods and i^'ettinii- on to the ice. a short dis- 
tance a.he.id of the troops, 1 mnietliateh a race 
commenced, Ivat nothing- wa-i _!4".iined until alter the\- 
lelc the ri\er at \\'illiam Johnston's place at the 
head of the R'-ich. ddv p)rta'^e was roj^h and 
<)"i>oked aro ind amonu" the trees, and uj^on tlic 
updiiil i^^ra.le the h )rs.'>, weiried hv the iunu 
ra.e upo:i the ri\ er, couKl not be urged beyond 
a walk. Th.-relore the soldiers were able to run 



54 HISTORY OF lORT rAIKKIIZLD. 



on lb(/t ahead oi their own teams, ar.d soon ( \ er- 
take and eaptr.re both oftlie lumber teams and th.e 
men. AVith tliese. the first prisoners olthat blood- 
less war, t!-ie\- ret :rned t > the ri\er arid established 
their eamp upon tlie ncn'th side neu'h' opposite Mr. 
Johnston's, now kno\\i'! a> the \\'eeks p.lace. An 
adxanee \\as s>)(;n made aerc.ss the portage to tie 
ri\ er, whieh brou^'ht tl'.em within the preser.t t( v,n 
o! bort Fairfield, jamj-; bht/lierberi: w;ts able to 
afiOrd the best slielter iVom the eold of an Ar(( s- 
t )ok winter, and tlierefore his hor.se beea:r.e a pcip- 
i:l ir SLopi")inL;- pbiee lor the olbieevs. 

At this time Mr. Johnston sent b.is s< r, Warren 
A., to Tobiqr.c, (Andover) tj Tilbett's miil with 
a i;rist. While t'le ^rist was bc:n<^^ jroird. bry 
like, he decided tj take in the town, which ccr.- 
; isted (^I'a : t .re and t.wcrn ;".nd a lew rr.dc licir.c::". 
While dc-in*^ so he learned that a party wr.s beinir 
crg-.'.nized to l^'o to b^itzherbert's an.d captv.re tl e 
(jtb.eers. .\s soon as his g'rist was <i,roi:nd, he start- 
ed U)v homie with the intention of giving the alarm. 
Scm.e cf th.e orpinizing party suggested that hueh 
would be the ease, and immediate!}- they .started 
;iUor hir . Warren was i:ccn c\ertaken ar.d tcld 
I'.ial he Tiiiist reiurn w ith t!:em. Tb.e h( rse was 
taken from the sled and pnt into a stable, ar.d tie 
]iart\' returned to the tavern lor another drink, .'ind 
to perfect the organization. The bov w.itched the 
r.rst cppcrtvr.ity r.nd K.ok his b.erfc frc m tb.c ft;.l le 



insTOK\ or lOKT i'AiKri!:Li). 



55 



and ni;i 1c anolhcr start f«.r home. The ornfrcnizcd 
p.'iriv overlook liim just :i> he Lraincd the od.i^rc of 
lMi/.herbei-t*s t.penin,u\ and siieeeeded in surprisin.i;- 
tlu-UK and in caplurin- l.and A-ent Melntyre. and 
o-avr rise to the jxirody in which the oft rep:ite.l 

•■■Kim, Slrirkl.inil, run : tii<', Stovyr. 1".i«',' 
Wt'io tlu' last words .-f .Mcliil.\ v," 



oceurs. 



The capture ol" Melntyre led to a falling- back of 
the forces to Masardis, and Major Strickland, it is 
said, did not stop until he o-ot to Bangor. 

The second dralt supplied additional troops, and 
the -round abandoned was re-occupied amid con- 
siderable excitement, and soon an a;;ent of the Pro- 
vincial -overnme.U made his appearance, with 
authoritN from (Governor IlarvcN t) order all par- 
ties from the disputed territory, only t ) lind hi/n- 
self a prisoner and a hosta-e lor the safe return (.f 
Land Agent Melntyre. Governor Ilarvcy of Xcv/ 
Hrunswick ordered crat one thovsmd militia, and 
the IcLTislature of Maine voted an appropriation < f 
SS.ooo a!ul tlie drallin^- of ten t'nou.sand militia.. 
Re\()lutionar\ blood was up. and every indication 
pointed to open and sanguinary hostilities, when 
another actor appeared upon the scene. 

The national <i-overnment ordered General ^^ in- 
tkdd Scott, the hero of Lundy's Lane. t3 proceed 
to Maine and take command. With his staff, he 
arrived at Au^aista. the capitad (f the Str.tc. :in 1 



5^> 



lllsl^)l'J^ oi" i"()U' 



1"A!R1-1I:L!). 



took lip his quarters at the Auii'list.i House on tlie 
5th da\ of Maivh, iN^(). He had thirt\- thoi;saiul 
laiited States troops at his eomniand. but he was 
a man of peace, and at once set hinisell to woi-k to 
bi"ini;' about a cassation (^f h(-stilities. Cjo\ ei'noi' Har- 
\ e\' of New Brrnswick and (jo\ ernor h^aiiiield oC 
Maine were induced to wit'uh'aw their troojTS. ex- 
cliani^'c prisoners, and submit tlvjir dis'pute t > ;irbi- 
tration. 

While this was possibK' th _' onl\- war in w liich 
not a single battle was iouLi'ht, it was not altogether 
a bloodless one. 

After the militia was disbanded, a company of 
Ignited States Infantr\- was stationed upon h\)rt Hill. 
occiip\ino- the blockhouse erected by the \ olui'.teer 
force after the militia was disbanded. 

One moi-nin^- alter -^'uard mountiiiL:,-, the relie\cd 
H'uards in dischar^Mnii" their muskets, s;iot a randopii 
ball in the direction of a small cle.irinu". where Na- 
than Johnston, a brother of Mr. \\'illiam Johnston, 
was at work reaping" i^rain, and produced a wound 
from which he cbed that daw 

It was not until the close of Martin \'an lUiren's 
administration, that acti\e neii'otiations were en- 
tered into to settle the boundary question. 'I'he ex- 
citing- political campaign of 1840, the deleatinix ol' 
the j)arl\- that had conli-olled the affairs of go\ern- 
ment for man\- \ears, the death of (Jenei-al Harri- 
son tliirtx' davs after his inauj:>'uration. all were 



iii>i<)!-;v ():■• i-{)i^r I'AiKFii:!.:). 



.■> / 



a^Minst t:iki!iLi- up tliis (jucsLion. WvA \\\1'a the in- 
c ):iiin;^' of Prcsiclciit TnIlt'n administiMtK);"!, with 
l).i:iicl W'clv.k'r S.'.Tot.irx' of State, iic ^"otiations 
were opened whieli euliiiinated in the W'ebster- 
A-^hdv.irLon tre.it\-: and in tiie s-.imme;' ci' i^^i, com- 
rnissior.ei's with a. detailed toree I'rom the English 
a ul United St ites troDps establislied t'ne b.):indar\- 
and set up ir.)n posts to r.iirk the sa/nj as far as 
the St. jolin river. 

That treaty settled the boundar\ bne as Car west 
as the Roeky Mts., and beeame the enterini^- wedg^c 
to a line of poliey that has sinee prewiiled, and we 
trust e\ er will be maintained between this and the 
m )ther ejuntry on all qaestions of difference that 
Ilia-,- arise. =' 



58 



JJl.^rOKV FORT J'AIRFIELD. 



CllAPrER vu. 

AROOSTOOK WAli 1\ HISTORY. 

'I'Ik' dispulc in rci^MrJ t ) the noithc.isl bonn- 
cl;ir\' of Maine, which cuhiiinatcd in callini;' out 
the Stiitc niililia and building- Ibrlilicatioi'.s i]))on 
the Aroostook and h'ish ri\ crs, has been treated as 
a ver\- insi^nitieant affair, and more as a niattei^ of 
ridicule than as one of heroic de\"otion to home, to 
State rights and national i~)restige. worthy of the 
descendants ol the heroe.-^ of Bunker Hill, Ticon- 
deroo'a, Saratona, \'<)rkto\\n and 'I'renton, 

While each \ear adds to the importance and 
\alue ol the possession, it should be remembered, 
that but for the coura!.>v and dexotion, toil and pri- 
\ation and patriotism of these men, the British lla<? 
would uow be fl\ in^,- oxer this entire re£;i( n. If 
State action had r.ot been taken, and State pride 
aroused, the strict wordini^- o(" the treaty (;f 179,^ 



iiisTOKV ():•■ i');'i- i-An<riKL!>. 



59 

^bt have shown t) the a.thonlic; .1 Wash- 
ivi^rit'nlallthe tribut irics t, the St. J..hn nvcr 
,vcre unM.-^tionably Hritish waters. l>utth,sae- 
twn. i,.^ether with the la.t thai as early as iSo. 
tV-StU. nlMassa-h.s.U. had taken formal pos- 
so..i(.n and K.:aleai.ind larbey..:ul s:ieh an ima^^n.- 
nrv line, became the stron- points in our lav. -r m 
;V-n-otiiti:>n ol' the Webster-Ashbmlon treaty. 
OMrSt^f^is w.rlhv of all honor fen" the prompt- 
n -,. with xvhi:h she arose t . the enier-enev, and 
the spirit in Nvhi:h she st.r.d re idy to nviinta,n her 

''^\ carelal snrvev of the situation cann(.t but lead 
t ) a i-.st appreciation of the patriotism and devotion 
of t^.c men, v/ho, at th.c call of the State, left home 
n-vl bved one,; and marched into the northern 
wilderness in the dead of winter, t. wlu:rc they 
were almost sure t ) meet a ibc who wJidd -rcatly 
o-tnumberthem; to where they had i^ood reason 
t, believe and did believe that their j^om- woi Id 
rcvUl, opei h.,stilltie., and that the Ion- and 
wirv march thro;-h storm and snow, wast, a 
eampin;^ gro.:nd in an unbro!:en wil.lernes. tar 
fr.)m civiliz.iti:)n. 

Their <'-oin- lorth to what one has been pleased 
t . call a -bbodless war/* was n(A a -mere pastime, 
free from hardship, exposure or danger, but to 
,,11 the realities of a long, revere and dangerous 
c unpai .-n. Thev experienced all and more ot the 



6o 



H1^^0KY Ov rURT FAIRTIELD. 



realities of \v;ir, save the horrors of the battle-tlel'J, 
tha'i r.i:i:i\- n-.Ii;) were ia the \\'iir (1" the Relx-lli(;n. 

Aral raar.n' well traaiie:! s(;ldiers will a.ssure \';'a 
t'^at the terrible ''What is t;) he :"' was hartha- to 
stand up a.^aiast th;in t'^e ;iet-.ail eoala^^t (,!' the 
battle held. 

?\rore thai! on^j hiaidred miles int.) the wilderness 
and ;iwa',' I'rora ei\ ilization tliese men wei:t lor 
\\arlike piu'poses, man\' a mile of wear\' mareh 
when p.o 'possible ;:ssr.r:inee eonid be i;i\"en th;it 
the p.ext ho;;r (a- e\ en minute woald not brini^- 
thiem face to face with a hostile foe; as trre soldiers 
alwa\"s on the alert, e^"er \vatehi'ul, alwa\s reae^■ 
ibr the eadl t;) battle, and deserNanLi" of all the honor 
that Nvor.ld ha\ e been s'a.owered iipoii them ittlie 
ea!l had realh' been made and th.e eonf iet had been 
loni^' aand sanij,Tiin:ir\'. 

The obstacles in tlie wa\' (A' i\'lial)le information, 
as to the action taken or m(y\ ements of the I-'ro- 
Nancial ^'oNernn^ent, or the exasperated settlers 
whose hiisiness had been broken r.p, jtlaced their 
e\ er\' m')\ enier.t a.t a L,reat disadxanta^e. 'Idiat 
thcY \\ere r.ot cut off" from th.eir base of supplies 
and compelled ta surrender or perhaps wholh' de- 
slroxed, can (,rAy be accounted l'(~)r, frcan t'ae reason 
that the op'p'jsini;" lorce was less C'uira<4e:vas or less 
in earnest ibr the defence of the tcrritorx" and their 

The re.idiajj: w!th wh.ich the-\- ^'oluntcercd after 



^' 




HISTORY or l-ORT I'AIRFIKIJ). C'>T, 

bciiiii" mustered out of tlic militia, and took unoii 
tlicmsohcs both the duties of the soldier and the 
eonimon laborer, should not be loi'*j;olleii. The 
buiidiiiL;" ol" rorlilieations. the making" of State roads; 
the letting- in of li^ht. tlie sending out oC u'ood re- 



W lU'n m ine lasL .Maine' K'i;iMauii<. a [tcuLMMi \\ a>> 
presented askin^• that the soldiers ol" the Aroostook 
War be plaeed upon the pension roll, and the quiet 
and indifferent maiuier in whieh it was passed by 
beeame a matter of reeord. we were indeed thank- 
ful thai in spile of the ne^lejt and ingratitude of an 
uniiratelul eountrw the eonseiousness ol true devo- 
tion ;ind heroie ck'eds brings its own reward. 

Moi-e tlian half a eentui-\ has passed sinee iheii" 
heroie deeds beeame a pail ol liu' nation's hislor\'; 
ami the stamp ol" approval plaeed u]")on them, 
through the establishment of our r.oitheastern 
boundary. 

While we eontrast the \alle\- ol the Ai'oostook 
and upper St. John of to-daw w itli what it waslifl\- 
\ ears aLi'o. and tlu-n h)()k loi'ward to ihc ti'an.sfoi'm- 
inn' jiower oi' another iift\ \ ears, we ma\ realize 
something- of the ureal \alue ol the brinht jewel 
sa\ ed throuuh iheir \ i^ilanee and ilevolion to the 
national doiuain. 



^4 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER MIL 

CAI''I"A1XS IN Tin: WAR. 

Tlic first captain of wlioni \vc ha\ c an\' account. 
Stover I^incs, was with Slicrit'f Strickland and Land 
Ai^'cnt Mclnt\rc at Fitzbcrbcrt's upon tliat mem- 
orable ni^^ht when the tii-st real experience oi' ac- 
tual hostilities came to their \ iew. If the land a<;ent 
w;is the superior otiicer, he failed to "lire, vSto\"er, 
lire," at his command. With that short experience 
he drops out of si<i,ht, so i'ai" as our town is con- 
cerned. Capt. Rines, however, lias a record as 
c(Mnmander of a compan\- from Oldtown that re- 
mained at f\:)rt Kciit until 1S40, when the\" were 
reliexed hv a compaiu" of Uriited States troops. 
Capt. Rines subse(|uentl\- entered iiito business at 
I^'ish Ri\er. and became an honored and influential 
citizen of that place. 

The second in command was Capt. A\'illiam Par- 
rot, who was in command until September, i<'S39; 
then he returned to his home in ?klassachusetts. 



iiisioKV oi- 1-oKT rAiKiii:^'- 



^>5 



Capt. Georo-o W. Toxvlc Nvas lor a t.ni..- m com- 
mand of the volunteers, and in ehai-v whdc budd- 
in- the upper bloekhouse. and in the construction 

ol'the State road. 

\rterbeino-relievedol' his command, Capt. loNvle 

secured the beautiful interval at the mouth ol the 
Presque Isle stream, and made a deli-htlul home 
lor those earlv days. In addition to his farmm^, 
he eno-:io-ed extensivelv in lumber operations. 

Capt.'iohn l'>. Win- relieved Capt. Towle ot l^.s 
command, and I'or a time was the principal olhcer, 
and as a matter ol course the bi-est man in the 
nexv settlement that was oatherin- round the post. 
Capt Win- was a man ol" considerable executive 
Mbilitv. Ik> entered heartilv into the development ol 
the country, and was actix e and inHuential m secur- 
ino- a charter from the British Parliament and the 
United States o-overnmcnt to hold the lumber at 
the morth of the Aroostook river, lor raftm- be- 
lure takino- to St. John Tor sale. 

lk>ino- cn-au-ed in the Limberin- business, he saw 
the necessitv^or letter transportation for short 
lumber around the Aroostook falls, and surveyed 
and commenced th^' • -n ;tru. tion of a railroad lor 

that purpose. , 

In the winter of i^r^-.\.^ He returned to his lor- 
nier luMue in Piscata<iuis county, and alter a 
Ncrv brief visit returned with one of San-eiMlle s 
beautiful maidens as his wedded wife. 



66 



IIISI'ORV OF VOR'V 1"A1KFI1:LI). 



Capt. Wini^- liad unqualified faitli in tliis C()iint\-, 
and while outside in pursuit of a wile, he was hard 
at NNork to induee otiiers to lollow him to his ne\\' 
IVontier home. .Vmon^ the number that heeded 
his ad\ iee \\'as Mr. Charles \\\ Doughtx , who, with 
his \()un<_!,' wife, a sehoolmate ol" ^Irs. W'in^', re- 
tui"ned with them. Subse(|uentl\' a Noung'ei" sister 
of Mrs. Dought\- made them a \ isit at their new 
Aroostook home. 

We shall ne^•er know how mueh speeial plead- 
ing- it required, but we do know that our \vorth\- 
townsman, )(;hn Ix Tralton, I'^scp, was at that time 
a AerN" promisin*;- xounL;- law\er, and at his solieit:i- 
tions she deeided to jirolong^ her \ isit, and tinalh", 
not onh- to i^ixe up the idea ol returning- to the 
liome ol" her childhood, but to abandon the honor- 
able and respected name b\' which she had been 
proud to be called, and accept another, by which 
she has since been known, the light of his home 
and the worthy and devoted mother of his children. 

Capt. Wing subsequently m()\ed to Penns\lvan- 
ia and engaged in lumbering upon the Suscpiehanna 
river. ' In 1841 he was succeeded in command by 
Capt. \^an Ness of the regular army, who for two 
\ears was in command ol" a conqxanx' oL' United 
States InfantrN', stationed at the new Ignited States 
post, and known as Fort Fairtield. The captain 
had seen ser\ ice in the Florida war. B\- some his 
courage was questioned. 'Jdie boys used to gi^■e 



iii>r<>i<> oi i-OKT I Ai la I i:i,i). 



G^ 



him llu' crctlil of l^'inn' the active a<;'ciit in ihe I'ol- 
h)\\ iiiL^' iiicitlciU : 

The scouts had broii^lit woixl tliat a hiruc hocK' 
(if Indians was approacliini:'. when the c'aptain ad- 
ch-essetl liis men and ui'^ed them to he hi-a\ e and 
ch) their dut\. Init saiil he: "\'ou no ch)ubt w ill he 
o\ eij^ow ered and compelled to retreat, and as 1 am 
lame and cannot i^o \ er\' last, I will start now I" 

In 1^4,^ the captain with his command was oi-- 
dered to I^asti-)ort, and from there to the southwest- 
erii IVontier. antl became an acti\e. and we beliexe, 
a uselul. pai"ticipanl in the Me.\it.an war. 

With L'a))l. \'an W'ss, NNJiik' stationed at I'^oii 
i'aii'lield, was Lieut. Ricketts. \\ ho, w ith his xouul;" 
w ife. was L;reatl\- ri-spected b\ the settlefs. Lieut. 
Ivicketts became a majof-iieneral in the War ol" the 
Rebellion, and diel his countr\' i^ood ser\ ice. 

In ihr sumiiKT of iNSi). the w riter. w ith his w ile, 
Mrs. A. C. Raul and Mr. and Mrs. (i. W'. Hilton, 
matle up a jiart\" to \ iew the National L'emetei"\' at 
ArliuLjlon Ilein'hts, Soon at'tei" eiitei'inLi' the 

H'rountls, out" attention was attracted h\ a beautiful 
monument, and we decitled to lea\e tiie cafriaue 
antl inspect it. 

To Mill- emprise w e found that it mai'ked the ii'st- 
inu place of Ma jor-( Jeneral Ricketts of the I'nited 
Stales Arm\ ; and. as il to lemox e all doubt as lo 
iilciUit\, we ivad these words: "Who scr\c'd as a 
lieutenant, at an earfN da\ . upon our Northeastern 



68 



HISTORY I'OR'l' FAIR I'T ELI). 



Frontier."' 

These men all hud a plaee and worthiK- tilled it 
in the earl\' historx' of our town. A\'ith others. the\' 
did their part in brini^-in^- it to notiee, in sliapin^' its 
polie\' and la\in<;- the foundation for those \\'h() 
eame alter to enlarge and build upon. 



in^ioKV OK loKi- iAiKi-ii:i.n. 



U) 



CUAPTKR IX. 
A i'1()NKi:r >i:t-h.kmi:n'I". 
In September ..f 1^4-- ^^^^ Freeman Ellis. Jr. 
and Deueon Edward S. lM)xvler. both oi Sanovr- 
vilje made a trip to the then new Aroostook eoun- 
U-v lor the purpose ol' takin- up State land and 
makino- homes. At that time they found all the 
desirable land alon- the State road taken up. and a 
settlement had been commeneed on what was then 

4-1 ( ' ..-.tro line 1'' r \\'hitne\- and 
known as the Lentic line. i.. i • 

Sanlord Johnston, who eame from Kennebee eoun- 

tv with one Hunt, (who had taken up the lot and 

built a house where A. 1. Rollins now lives) had 

taken the lots, now owned bv James Johnston and 

Mr. Cummin-s. upon whieh they had lelled 

twentv aere> of trees; and Deaeon lliram Stevens 

had o-one on bevond them and taken the two lots 

south and adjoinin- their land. up<.n wh.eh he had 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



felled five acres of trees. When Messrs. Iillis and 
l^'owler arri\ed on tlie scene upon tlial September 
mornini;- in iSp. ihe\- I'oiind a path Inished out to 
llie Johnston and \\"hitiK'\' ("ailing-, and tlie tii^e had 
done its work so I'ar as to Inirn the small brush 
and black the lo,us: and fi"om there to ^\v. Ste\ens' 
opening-, whicli was in like condition, there was 
onl\' a "spotted line." South oi" AFr. Stc\ ens' opcn- 
ini:,' was a small brook and a bi^!," ccdai" swam]^. 
Through this swamp and al(»n^- this line for a mile 
the\' tra\ellcd before deciding' upon a location. 
Mr. bulb's took the two lots on the west side and 
Deacon f^twlci- j^asscd o\ er one lot and took tlu' 
second one. upon the east side and adjoining- Mr. 
flllis" south lot. 

With thcii' decision made, to make homes lor 
theii" families in the new c<»untr\'. and land located. 
the\- rctui-ned to Piscataquis count\- to arrange 
their business to make a start carl\ the next spriuL!,'. 
Soon aftci" thcii" i^eturn to San^crx ilk\ Mr. I^llis 
commenced a corresj'xjndence with his brother. 
Isaac V. f>Ilis, who was then li\ in^" in i'^n ette, the 
result of which was that he and his bi'othcr in law. 
Mr. Addison Powci's, joined him the following- 
March, and with his eldest son ( the writer ). started 
with two one-horse teams, for their new location. 
On his rej^rcscntations. the\' took the two lots di- 
rcctl\" south of his and Deacon l"ow ler's lots, and that 
summer felled fort\-fi\e acres upon the adjoinino- 



attB. 



\k 





O 



HISTORY OK FORT FAIRFIELD. 



73 



jour coi'iicrs. Tliroiinh Deacon I'^iwlcr's inlliicncc 
a Noiiii^ man hv the name of I. W. 1*. lorcian liad 
located south ol' Mi-. Powei's on tlie east sitle ol tlie 
centre line, and felled the acres of trees, on what 
is now know as the r)i-\ant faiau. The Uvv was not 
tlone burniuL:,' in the fortN-fix e acres chopping, w hen 
I- \\ innate Haines from Ilallowell came to see the 
new countrw and was so well pleased with this sec- 
tion of it, that he bouL,dit Mr. Freeman Ellis' claim 
and also took up the State lot between Deacon Ste- 
\ en's antl Deacon b'owler's. making in one bod\ 
lour hundred and eiu"ht\ aci'cs. Mr. ICllis then 
went south of hi.s brother, and took the west half 
of the six hundred and foi't\" acre block inmnini;- 
south to the town line. With Mi-. I Ia\nes came a 
\()unn' man b\ the name ol (leorui' A. Xurse, who 
boui^'ht the Hunt, now Rollins, place, which then 
extended south one mile and joined the James John- 
ston I'arm. \'ounLi- Jordan returned to Sanu-erx ille 
th It \ e:ii" and sold his land to Mr. Leon ird Spuon- 
ei". who came with his famil\- in the summer ol 
iS||. Mr. Iliines did not mn\ e his famih' until 
.se\eral \ ears later, but in the nuan time placed hi-- 
brothel" up )n the land, and ha\ in'4' moi-e me ut> to 
do with, made larue impi'oN (.•nu'iit'^. not onl\ upon 
that land, but erected a sawmill on the brook, w Inch 
w.is a ureat help in building, to the settlers. in an- 
other w a\- he did more to beneru Aroostook coun- 
ts th in an\ othei" man ol tlio^e earix da\ s. Some ot 



74 



HISTORY OF FOR']" 1'AIR]'1EL1). 



tlic best blooded stock ( Tthiit d-Ax in the State came 
liere tlirou^'li his intUience and with his monew In 
those da\s, ^\•hen worl; \\'as scarce, r.(;t becar.se 
there was no demand for it, but because there was 
so little to pa\' lor it, Mr. Ilair.es was ne\ er with.- 
out somethini;" that could be i.secl in oiie's i'amih' to 
eat or wear, with which lie could p'dv Cor a da\"s 
work, and it was seldom, summer or winter, that 
he turned a need\- applicant awa\-. 

Before returning- to their families in Fa\"ette, ^Iv. 
Powers and Isaac V. P^llis erected lo<;' houses upon 
their land, and jointh- with b^reeman Ellis and Dea- 
con Fowler, built twent\-one- rods of cedar-log- 
bridge across the brook and cedar sv.'amp on the 
eastern line of Deacon Ste^■ens' land. These v/ere 
the first houses in the ^vlaple Gro\'e settlement. In 
the spring of 1844 thev with their families occupied 
them. Deacon I'owler mo\'ed his famih- into the 
log camp occupied jointh- hv these parties while 
felling tlie IbrtN-fn-e acres of trees and making the 
impro\ements the season before. Freeman Ellis 
mo\ ed his famib" into the Hunt h(nise on the A. I. 
Rollins place, and a few weeks later into a part of 
his brother Isa:rj's log house, and in the summer to 
his own Iramed h.ouse. This was soon followed 
by houses built by Deacon Fowler, J. W. llaincii 
and Leonard Spooner, and the following }"ear by 
DcLicoa liiram Ste^■ens. The house built b}' r^Ir. 
IIaine:s and occupied by his brother C']iarle:s and 



iiis'i'om oi' I'oin' KAiuiiij.i). 



/ .T 



1;in"iil\- for four \-cnrs, was located near tlie spot 
where M i\ Albert 1.. Haines' ilne residenee now 
stand-;. 'I'he baildinu's ereeted hv I'^-eeman lOlIis 
lia\ e been enlireK renioxed; tlie\' stood neaiU op- 
posite the buildings upon the Sjiooner Jarin. now- 
owned b\' Charles I)r\-ant. iil'tN- acres ha\ inij,- been 
sold to his son aiul buildings erected, afterwards 
sold to .Ml-. Alnioii S. Ricb.ards. who bought all the 
land taken up hv Mr. Ellis, except the south eight\- 
which had pre\ iou.sK passed into the hands of Re\-. 
El bridge Knight. 

In the spring ol' i S4S. Mi-. |. W. Ilaines nio\ ed 
his laniil\- and took the actixe nianagenieiit ol his 
I'ann. 'i'his for sexeral x'ears constituted the Ma- 
jile (jro\e settlement, with slight changes, without 
rem:)\-ing an\- of the old landmarks. Isaac V. El- 
lis bought out Mr. Powers, aiid sold liltx- acres 
( which is now a p:\vl of the town I'arm ) oi'l' the 
south end of his original lot. to Matthew C Holster. 
Dj.i. Scjxeis h id sold to his brother what is now 
the Rediker place. Mr. Nurse had soUl to Enoch 
IIo\t the south part of the Hunt lot. Mr. I laines 
had sold a part of what is now the 1. II. Kij^t^ I"; ini 
to his son. (icorge W. liracirord Luinniin ;s, kisq.. 
and James lohnston hatl located upon and im ■)ro\ed 
the v.. W W'hitiuw and Sanford johuslon lotM ]. W. 
Haines had built a mill-hou^e. and C. II. ICIlis h.ad 
built a shingle mill a short distance below his saw-- 
mill, and a I'oad had been ojuaieil across Deacon 



76 HISTORY OF FORT FAIR IF ICI.D. 



Stevens" east lot to the mills. .V road had been 

opened aeross |. A\\ Haines* north lot, west, into 

tlie IIo\t neighborhood. A post otliee had been 

established, with Deacon Edward S. l"\)\\Iei" jiost- 

inaster, and C II. Ellis mail contractor, with the 

understanding- that the postmaster should carr\ the 

mail to and irom the I'ort b^iirrield ollice once a 

week lor the i')i-()ceeds of the ollice. 

I 



^Is'^()l-;^ oi- iok't I'aik' i-'IELD. 



c'ii.\i»ri:R x. 

oi R i'1()m:i:k motiii.rs. 
Sonic one lias said tliat while Nolumcs h:{\c been 
written abont oui' l'il«j,Tini I'atliei-s. not one line has 
yet appeared in re^anl to our Pilgrim Mothers, 
(^lite as loreible a wiater has pertinentK' raised the 
([uestion. ■'Il it had not Ix'en Coi" our motlu'i's w here 
should we her" Whether in the deep solitude ol" 
a home I'ai" Ironi tViends. and onl\- hei-e and there, 
sepai'ated In distance too L;i-eat to remo\ e the lone- 
liness that eomes to us from tlu' eonseiousness ol' 
iinaL:inai"\ or real e\ ils h\ which we are surround- 
ed, and be\ond out" power to resist: to be aroused 
IVoni our i-e\ eiics b\ the sci'cech of the hannless 
ow 1. the howl of the luniLirx woH'. or the ci'ack of 
the huntci-'s or hulian's rille. oi" in the bi-oader but 
not less loneK home upon the \ a^t praii'ic. where 
iVoiii morn until ninlil tlu- e\e m i\ look out 
onl\ to see one unboundetl lielil of loneliness, and 
if pei\hance at times it is bi-oken. to be followed 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIR RUM J). 



hv suspense, not knowing' whether friend or foe is 
eoniin<i," — is an experienee into wliieli tlie women 
in pioneer life iia\ e most t'ulh' entered, and one tliat 
iias been harder to bear than the liardsliijys and pri- 
\ations share'd witli husbands and ehildreri in their 
rude and eomi'ortless liomes. and one that h;is mueh 
to do with the faltering step, the sad ;ind wear^• 
look, 'tlie wasting- strenL;th, the e(dd ;ir.d iil'e-ess 
form, the motherless ehildren and the distraeted 
husband, that too often becomes a ]^art (A' pioneer 
life. 

in the settle'ment of the Aroostook \alley, th.ere 
were speeial causes to awaken apprehension, arouse 
fear and make almost unendurable the li\es of those 
de\'otcd women who had bra\ el\" left the comforts 
of civilization, and g-one forth with the men of tl"!eir 
choice — not onl\- with them the solitu.de and lone- 
liness of a forest home to share, but to enter into a 
lari2;er experience of absolute loneliness, when bus- 
iness or necessit\- compelled them to spend the day, 
and too often extendiuL!,' into da\s, from home. 

Onh' a few miles awa\' there was a tribe of half 
civili/ed Indians; from time to time wild beasts 
prowled around Iw niii,ht, and sometimes came un- 
comfortabl\- near In da\-; and often admonislied of 
approaching' sickness, with a knowledge that the\- 
were so far separated from the experienced ph\si- 
eian that it was impossible to call for his aid. — 
these were onI\- a part of the almost un.endui-able 



msroKY oi' I'-oKT i'aiki'ii:li). 



79 



trials that added to their unrest. 

It is true these eauses Irid a teiulene\' to briii^- 
tliese earl\' settlers nearer t:)i;-ether — in fact, to an- 
nihilate distance: and b\" da\" or ni^-ht the call of 
distress met with a mc-st heart\" response: and it 
bec(;n"ies a cjuestion whether the siilTerer amidst 
this solitude is entitled to the greater honor, or the 
heroic woman, who, upon a storm\- ni^j,ht, amid the 
mutterini:,- of sttnaii and the howlinii- of woKes, 
mounted upon a h.orse led aloni^' a bridle path b\' a 
soon to be iiitlier. lantern in hand, ha.^tened to her 
reliei: 

These m(»therl\ women who so noblv stood h\ 
and encouraged their xounner sisters in their pio- 
neer homes were not a lew. and the\" are no less 
deser\ inn' of mciition, or ha\ in^' their brows 
cr(,wned with huirels, than the most renowr.ed 
heroes whose life blood ilowed l"reel\' upon san- 
i^-uinary fields. Amoni^- these faithful and de- 
N'oted women, who weie e\ er read\' to respond to 
tiie call of their sufferinu- sisters, Mrs. ^\'illiam 
Johnston, Mis. b'reeman lOllis arid Mrs. Le\ i IIo\t, 
are descr\ ini^- ol" j^articidar mention. If we were 
to^i\e a list (^lall deserving- (jT jiraise an.d ad- 
miration foi- theii- toil and i')ri\ ations, i'or their de- 
\otion to their husbands and children, l"(/r the 
active and laborious jiart t!ie\ tjok in traiibformin^^ 
the wildcrr.cijS into the lo\el\" liajiin' homes we 
n(/W behold, it would be to ix'xw the names of each 



8o 



HISTORY OF FOl^'I' FA I K 1<T ii I>1). 



and all who were the sunliL;-ht of those rough but 
1iapn\- ]')i()neer homes. Anioni;- the \"ounLi" women 
who eommeneetl married life am(^nL;' the earl\- 
settlers ot our to\\'n^ Mrs. llenr\' Currier stood 
jire-eminently al)o\ e all oth.ers, as a wile, m(;ther 
and helpmate. A\niile she h;is ^one o\er to the 
border land, her lar^e lamilx' ha\ e ^"one out from 
hei" iulluenee and training', and b\' theii" li\c's and 
example are a etjntinued honor to her name. AMiile 
we eannot :n"i\e an extended list, we eannot forbear 
mention of the name of ?^Irs. Jesse .V\erill, who 
did her W(U"k well and has q-one to her re\\'ard. 

'idu're ma\- be others who suffered more pri- 
\ations, and w hose heroie toil and suffering's are 
deser\ ing of mention, and who did as mueh in the 
moulding ot our soeial surroundings, but as this 
part of our histor\- must be from personal obser- 
\ation, and it is not our purpose to extend this line 
of obser\ ation beNond a single chapter, we can go 
no farther. 

The real worth and true womanhood of these 
worth\- and de\()ted motliers of this \-oung eolonw 
are beheld in the clearest and most perlect light, 
in the uselul. inlluer.tial and commanding li\ es ol 
their daughters — the mothei's of to-da\-. And as 
tile Roman matron pointed to her children and 
saitl : "These are nw jewels," the imperishable 
names of their children honor e\ er\" profession, 
strengthen every institution and aid in building up 




STREET VIEW, GOODHUE S BLOCK. 




AROOSTOOK VALLEY STARCH FACTORY. 



iiisroRv OF i-x)K'r i'airi-ij::li). 



83 



all the walks oi' life. While wo rejoice that the 
W()i"kl iiiox es and that woman s intliienee-is more 
anil moie coming" to be a pow ei". ne\ lt can she 
rise to a hi^hei- eminence. ne\ er shall slu- know a 
hinher Tame. ne\ er shall a hriuhter halo L:,ather 
around her name, than the sacred cndearini;- name 
ol' mother, that li\es. brightens and daz/.les in the 
life work of her dexoted sons. 



^^4 



IIlSrORY OF FOK'I' FAIRJIELI). 



CHAPTER XI. 

TOFOCiKArm' AM) SOIF. 

Tlicre is no part ol' I'oit I'';iir!K'ld that is more 
tlian six miles clistaiU from ib.c .Vrocstook ri\cr; 
there are no liigh liills or hiuii barren hiPiJ. Tlie 
lii^hest land, whieh \v;is ealled b\" the earl\- settlers- 
'•th-e Mountain," is in the southeast p;irt (;l'tlie town. 
i:e;ir the western town line: it is not onl\- suseepti- 
ble ol'er Iti\ ation, but was amon^the lirst lan.d t:d<en 
("or sell lemerit ; llu- farms of )oii;ithan Ib)j^kinson 
;ind i);i.niel (J. l^dmer ]>einL:," located u|);)n il. and the 
r(>;id i'n:\)] Pies(|ue Isle to the ^ illa.pj ofl'^ort l'\iirt!ekl 
jiasses o\ er it. On the same roa.'J and nearer Fort 
I'^airfield, is the "Whitney hill," named for its lirst 
.settler, A\'il]i;im A\'hit!U^\-. who took it s(,(;n ;;fter 
''the Mountain" Nvas settled, ;iud cleared it to th.e 
\ erv summit. These high lands were Iree from 
Si:v.vc, an 1 \cr\' iTi'oducti \'e. and no doul-»t thi^se hiij,'h 
cle\;itions were soi-ohi en aeeoiin.t of ilieii' ht ;i~ i^' 
Jjss liable to frost, 



ll!s■|■()l^^ oi" lour r.\i u i i i.i.d. 



N^ 



The wliolc town with ihc exception of that ini- 
nu'chalc-l\ upon cither side nl' the |-i\ei- i> nnclii- 
latinL; and rolling-, and now that the trees in its 
\alle\s and npon il^ hillsides aie eleai'ed awaw it 
l^resents one of the most beautiful j^anoranias the 
e\'e of mortal man e\ er rested upon: \ar\inLi' as he 
ascends each hill top, and as he drinks in the 
beaut\- of his surroundinus. the lastappcarinii- more 
iKMutiful then its immediate predecessor. As seen 
in the earl\- forties, with here and there a small 
opening' cut in the \ ast i'orest ol maple, hirch. in- 
teis)ici'sed \\ ith hei\' and there a pine and hr. sencl- 
inLi- their slender, beautiful dressed lorm hea\ en- 
ward o\ cr-topij'icd hv stateU' pines lookiuLi' out from 
ab(i\eand t^)wn upon the beautiful scenei'x. seen in 
its best in the months of June and )ul\ ; as the sun- 
liuht rested upon it. and the gentle bree/es rustled 
its iireen, luxuriar.t foliaiic it stood unsurpassed in 
all the hind. 

'l"he land .'doiiLi- the ri\er is le\ el, and in places 
broad, beautifu.l iiiterNals spread out before xou. 
and in an earlier period no doubt, marked a larucr 
and broader ri\ er fi'om w ln\ h the waters swej")t on 
to the sea. 

The soil of I'^ort l"'aiitield i-- like that of the 
lower Aroostook \alle\. '"It rests u)")on a loun- 
dation of argillaceous rock which is but a few k-et 
below the surface, rre(|uent!\" croppinii' out, es- 
]HciilI\- upon the sides of the liills. 'IMiis rock is 



86 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



composed hirgclv of cliu" with a mixture of silica 
(sand) and lime. Its decomposition b\' tlie action 
of fVost and heat and n^.oisture. is in lact the 
material oC which the soil of the Ai^oostook \alle\' 
is made; lor ai^'cs this decomposition has been 
_<2,'oin^' on and has made the surface of earth in the 
uplands of the entire region, of the richest and most 
]ii'oducti\ e (jualitw"" 

It was from this fountain, the earl\- settlers drew, 
and some of them were so well repaid that the\' 
came to the conclusion that fertilizers would ne\ er 
be needed upon this land. 

It is these lastini^- cjualitics that makes the land 
after all these \ears respond so readiK' to the use 
ol' phosophates, and^"i\e the abundant and almost 
unprecedented Aield of ^■e^•etables, i^-rains and 
o-rasses. 

Limestone is found in \ arious places and 
Professor W^areino-. ( f Ncnv ^'ork, came to the 
Aroostook at an earl\da\- to deli\er an address be- 
fore the X. Aroostook Aoricultural Societ\', ^\ hen 
J. ^\ innate Haines was President and C II. Ellis 
Secrctarx'. and throuLi'h whose inHuence lar^elw he 
was induced to conu-. 

After extencliuL!,- his \ isit iVom Pi^escpie Isle, 
where the fair was held, to the beautil'ul farms ol' 
John .Vllen in ''(i,'" and Winslow Hall and I\'or\- 
Hardison in "H," <uul to the Maple Grove settle- 
ment and home of f. A\^in£2;ate Haines, he pro- 



iiisroKN oi" i-OK'i" FAim- ii:i,i). 



•^7 



noiinccd the soil identical with that of the far- 
I'aniecl (Jeiu'sce \alle\- of central W'w ^^)l•l^, and 
|nedietc-d I'ulurL' de\ (.'loiinu'iU and pioduet i\ eness, 
unsnrj")assed in the land. 

These lands are abundanlK' watered, lirst ol' all 
b\ the Aroostook ri\e'i\ which makes a L:,iand 
sweep and L^ix in^' nearl\ ten miles ol" \vaterwa\": 
next in importance, and coming- from the south 
is I'^it/hcibcrt's bi^ook, I'isinLi" in the township 
south ( Kaston ) and supplvin^- two \aluablc watt'r 
jirixilci^'cs. it empties into the .Vroostook ri\ei' 
about two miles abo\c the iidls. The [ohnston 
bi'ook. which rises in the south-west portion of the 
town, antl upon w hich the Maple Groxe Potato 
b\ictor\and lirx ant's M ill. is located, and which sup- 
plies more i^ood mill sites, with a scant\- suppl\- ol' 
water, than an\- othei- stiwim in the countw This 
stream supplies a \aluabk- mill site in our \ illa^e. 
and em)">ties into the Aroostook, neai" the L'ollins 
House. Tlu' Lo\c'l\ bi'ook rises in the town ol" 
!^res<|ue Isle and entei"s tlu' Aroostook i'i\ cr one 
mile abo\ e the \illane; it is a reliable watei" power. 

On the north sjtle ol" the Aroostook ri\ei' the 
Ilurd brook, alter lunniuL;- thi'ouLih the- north pait 
of the tow II ol" h'ort haiiticld. conus to tlu' ri\er 
one-hall" mile this side of the boumlaix line: op- 
posite the \ illa!4"e is the Xelson brook, and three 
miles abo\ e. the Amsden brook, alter waterini;- a 
lar<4e breadth of land, joins the Aroostook rixer. 



ss 



HISTORY OI' VORl lAlK II ]:L1). 



These, too-cther with a lar^'e number of beautiful 
fountains of sparkling' water sj^rin^iiiLi' up oiit o1 
the eartli, abunclantl\- siii^p<l\ both man :uul beast, 
with this, (jod's best i>-ifl to man. 



1I1S'1'01<\ Ol' I'OKT 1'A1KI-Ii;i-I). 



Sc; 



■ CIIAPTKR XII. 

Il.\!<:)>:i II'S AN!) I'K 1\ A'lMONS, 

Sonic men h;i\c made a record by their patient 
sni:'t'erin;i% wb.ile a nir.eh larger cla^s are renunn- 
bered more !"or their pliysieal endurance, tlie pri- 
\ations thcT ha.\e experienced and the liardshijis 
endr.red. rather thian lor what they ha\ e reall\- ac- 
complished. No where is tliis truer than in the 
ear]\- settlement of the Aroostook \ alley. N'ery 
Few of thesj settlers were possessed ol'any me ms 
other tlian what they earned b\ their daily toil. 
With hei\\- forest 1) remoN e from t'leir land, with 
e irl\ frost to injure their crops, they were ciTiii- 
IK-lled to en.^Muc in small lumber operations, or to 
«,^o from home l!iroi!«xh the- ^^ inter and work in t;ie 
limber woods. And too often alter a hard win- 
ters' w )rk.t;ie extren'ely hi,4"h price at which uoods 
]v.n-chas,'d on ihe 1 )n,u- time credit ofa lumber op- 
eiMtion, and hauled with teams from a far away 
m irket, had t > 1h' sold, wov.ltl i:se i;]") e\ cry dollar, 
e\en with th.e mo.^t prudent: management of alru- 
gal and ind'Sirious ho 'sewilc. And to tliosc who 



90 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



had no faniih- to siipjiort, the lian^'iiiL:,' up oi" the 
(h'i\'c, or total failure of their eniplo\er. \\'as no un- 
usual experience. 

Potatoes, then as now, wei"e a sure crop. The 
hoe struck thiouLi'h the turl and lilted so as to droj') 
a potato under i^ and ]:>ressed down with the foot, 
could sai"el\- be left until har\ est time, \\'ith the 
assurance of an abundant return. Oats wei'c usual- 
h' a safe crop, and <i,a\"e an abundant \ield, and 
through the enterprise of a Pro\incial neighbor, a 
good mill lor kilndr\ing antl grintling them, was 
within reach. luit for these facts some would has e 
been compelled to abandon their impro\ ements, 
and lea^ e thecountrx': ilinstances of actual star\- 
ation had not occurred: and a \aluable source of 
bread supply, that had comeTnto almost imi\ersal 
use, would not ha\"e been known to these settlers. 

The experience of one, with \ariations, was a 
part of man\' lixt-s. With a small clearing, a log 
house, the potatoes were gathered and storetl in 
the cellar, the onh" pro\ ision for the wile and \oung 
familv. The nearest place at wdiich work could 
be had was four miles awa\', and each morning 
with his ax upon his shoulder, at an earh- hour he 
left his home to toil until late at night lor a dollar, 
whose purchasing power was not over half, if more 
than one-third of what it is to-da}-. 

Then with a few pounds of meal, (flour was not 
to be thought of) a piece of pork, a little tea 



-v 



•-^^^-^.-'cV'l^ •' 






'tiS 



^ * -^ . l-'s tin 







iiisioKV or lOKl iAiKi"ii:i.i). 



n:^ 



fasU-iKHl to his ax handle and over Ids sliouldcr. he 
wended his Nvav baek K- his h.nelv wile and eoni- 
lortless iK.nie, io be repeated day afler dav. as the 
m,,ntlis and sonielinies years rolled axvav. An 
ineident related In an eye witness, is illustrative 
not onK of the destitution but of the heroism with 
which it was endured. 

"Alter a walk of several miles, a call at a liouse 
r,,r a drink ol' water, found the lamily just sittin- 
down to breakfast.-' Me was asked to "sit up and 
partake with them.'" but declined. To his sur- 
prise there was nothin- on the table but ,ureen^. 
(eooked liddle-heads. a species of lern ). and salt. 
Without beino- in the least abashed and probablv 
conscious that his destitution was not the exception 
he coollv remarked -If the house is full of pre- 
vision, we has e to have our -reens.- No doubt 
some of our readers will think this picture over- 
drawn, but when in manv of the families, wheat 
bread and butter were not seen for weeks to.ovther, 
xve mav not be surprised or unpre]Kired lor all 
and more than we shall ibid recorded in these 

'ofourown personal knowled-e. a hou>e uonv 
stands in this viUa-e upon which the carpenter 
work was done with the lull understanding that an 
nrder was to be -iven on the store, at one dollar 
p.-rdaN.and that buckwheat pancakes and mo- 
lasses u as the best board thai c.uldbelurmshed. 



9+ 



HISrOKV OF FORT FAIKJ'IELI). 



The wcar\- hours of toil, and the exposure to 
c^>]d and storm, Mas often more endurable than 
the destitution and pri\ations that was the lot of 
loxed (jnes, deprixed of the necessities of life, and 
tlie comfort of a home that all should enjow 

In the winter of "44-45 a bo\- who had knoxx n but 
little of the hardships of life, xx'as at work in the 
lumber woods s:)me txx'cntx' miles from home. In 
uiidxx'inter such a decree of homesickness came 
oxer him that hj obt lined le:ixj of abs.uice for a 
fexx' daxs to \isit his home. But that comfcHlless 
home and destitute familx", was harder to endure 
than all his past loneliness. So xxith a neii^'hbor's 
horse and sled and one to return xvith it, he started 
back to th.e xvoods, i^-oin*^- bx' the xvax' ol his eni- 
]~)lo\er"s store, to whom he told of the destitutioii 
at home, and "took up" all his work h;id couie to 
and all there was a prospect of earning' lor the re- 
mainder of the x\inter, and sent it home to help the 
familx' and xx'cnt on his wax' rejoicing-, to daxs of 
toil and exposure to wliich he had nexer been 
inured. 

As \ye i^'o forth and behold the broad lields, the 
beautiful' homes and 'the prosperous and wealthy 
farm'.'rs that make up (nw con.imunitx' to-da_x', it i-; 
indeed difiicult to realize the labor, pri\ati;)ns, 
hardships and sufferings that laid the i(;)undati:)n 
aiid made the present possible. It is difficult to 
oix e them the place they deserxc in transforming 



IIIS'IOKY Ol- l-OR'l- lAIRIIi:iJ). 



93 



the xvlldcrncss of desolation and -loom, into tlu- 
beautirnl panorama that iVom our hill-tops da/./les 
the eve of the beholder, while it entranees his 
vision, and leads him to exelaim: -'Hiey xviselv 
seleeted. nobl\ planned, and worthily perlormed. 
They rest IVom their toil'and privations, and their 
works are the foundation upon whieh others shall 
reap a rieh reward. 



¥' 



lii.s'iom oi" i'-()R'i' 



AIKl-IIOLI). 



L'lIAPTKR XIII. 

LOOKIXC; I'.AfKW AU H. 

Ill March. i''^4.^. a bo\- in his cii^htecnlh \car loll 
scliool and liomc in a quiet \illaii"c in central 
Maine, and started out on w hat prox ed to be a 
se\"en da\s" journex", to the then almost unknown 
^Vroostook countw 

The entire part\- consisted of three men and the 
bow and two one horse loaded teams. The roads 
were bad. snow deep, and it was \er\- difficult Liettino- 
past teams that wei'e met. There was \er\- little 
i^-oinii' Faster then a walk, and upon I'isin^- ground 
all walked. It was a tii-esome and dreary journey, 
and before its end a lull two leet oi snow \\'as 
added to that before fallen. After lea^•ino• Lin- 
coln \illao-e. there was onK here and there a 
house in a small clearing- until Mattawankea^' Point 
was reached, where there was a tavern, a store, 
two or tliree small houses and a blacksmith shop. 



lits'i'oKV {)V I'oK r r \iKi!i;i.i>. 



^)7 



|-'f(»ni iIk- "point' to the mnulli ol'tiir Aiooslook 
road wo passed oxcran unsettled eountry. not an 
inhabitant for tlie whole distance, and the land too 
l^oor to raise timber of an\' si/e. At the niouth 
of the Aroostook road there wa^ a tavern (hotel 
was not known in those da\ s ) and two kiru'e stables. 
'Inhere was a t.i\ ern at Molunkus, the ""Letter A 
House" and onl\- two or three settlers until we 
were within li\ e niileN ol' Houllon. lloulton was 
a t|uiet halniet. with Ilaneoek i^irraeksand a re^i- 
nienl of I'nited Slates troop> nearlx' one mile away. 

.M'ter lea\ iuii" lloulton we passed a few small 
opcniuii'S before ari^ix in^' at (leneral W'ellinu'ton s 
( Montieello ). tVom tliere to Ketehunrs ( IJridiiV- 
watt^-r) we jiassed throu^'h an u.nbroken wilderness, 
as before, until w ithin three miles ol" I'^iiibank's 
( Prescjue [sle). with the exception of Thorn's, a 
Iol;- house hall w a\ between r)ridu'ew ater and 
i^-es(|ue Isle, where a halt was almost uni\ersally 
made for dinner, to bail the team, or for a drink 
of something- stroULicr then water. IW-fore arrix inii' 
at i'^airbanks" we |\isse(.l two small openings with 
their small lou" houses, occupietl b\ Dea. Rose and 
lliram llaiilison and theii' lamilies. and possibly 
there minht have been two or thri-i' ollu-rs. 

l-'rom Pres(|ue Isle we jiassetl the X'eranus 
^'handler place (a \ er\ small beuinnini^) and alter 
ci'ossinu- the west line oj' -"Lettei I)" ( h'oi t h'air- 
tield). found the roadsiiles dolled with small open- 



98 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



inos wlierc Jonathan Ilopkinson. Daniel (j. Palmer. 
Mr. Hrai^don, Benjamin I), and Otis Eastman, 
Le\ i IIo\t. William Whitnew (Jrrin AVhitnex', 
limit. Tneker and Lxon had just eommeneed im- 
proxements. 

It was a loni;-, \vear\- j()urne\', with \er\- little to 
interest or lift the dark vail that seemed to settle 
as a jiall over the N-oimi;," life. It was a i^'oini^- out, 
without .Vbraham's Faith, '"not knowiuL:,' w hith.er he 
went." It was a )ourne\ a\\'a\' Irom liome. a\\a\' 
Irom xouul;,- ass(Knates, awa\' from all that had 
made up a happw hopeful. jo\()us lil'e. It was the 
beginini;- of a se\ ere but \aluable diseipline. It 
was the sehool of personal ri^dianee and self disei- 
pline, it was the puttinij,- awa\" of b()\hood and 
enterini;- upon the roxal road ol reliant nianhood. 

Our hrst da\- in h'oit h'airfield was April 5th, 
Our lirst effort at a dax's woi^k was euttin^- iee, 
whieh \\'as nearh' or cjuite three feet thiek in the 
.Vroostook ri\er. .V eharter for a boom at the 
mouth of the Aroostook had been obtained I'rom 
the I)ritisli Parliament. C'apt. ]. I), ^\^ino■ had pur- 
ehased the .\roostook boom from the State, and 
was en_<i"a<i"ed in euttin;.;,' it out ol the iee. and haul- 
ing- it to the mouth of the ri\ ei\ to ha\ e it in readi- 
ness to hold the spring- di"i\ es and raft the timber 
before running' it down the St. John river. The 
snow was then six leet deep; many of the teams 
had eome out of the woods unable to work, some 



iii.sroKY oi" i"()i< i' i"Aii<iii:i.i). 



^N 



b\" reason of scattered timber and lon^; roads, some 
because it was ini|"))ssible to l^cI supplies in li-oni 
l?ani>-or, on account of deep snow and bad roads. 

Ilaitlships and i^rivations were the lot of 
all tlie seUlers. Late spring's and e.irl\- frosts 
w ei'e I'xperienced lor sexeral subsequent \"ears. 
LuniberiuL;' seemed to be tlie popular emplo\-ment, 
but most of these new settlers who had nexer 
hid any experience in that business, were in- 
deed luck\- if a winter's li\ iuL^- for tliemselx es and 
families w.is realized li^)m their iinestment, but a 
more common experience was to come out in debt. 

Aroostook at that earl\ da\- was fortunate in the 
class of settlers that came to m:\ke iiomes. Thex' 
were men who came with dependent families, and 
used up all their meaiis before the\ had beiiun to 
experience the hai'dshi]is and ]~)ri\ations that came 
thick and fast. 

It is true the\ were haixl working- men with indom- 
itable wills, with courage to lace the most discour- 
auiiiL;- surroundiiiiis. Thex heroicall\- remained and 
lacetl ;dl these prixations and ti-iais lor the sim)")le 
but efl'ective reaxm, that ihei'e \\a.> nowhere the\- 
coukl no, and the\" had nothing- t.) go with. Like 
their heioic aiuestors \\ ho two hundred and t\\e:> 
t\ -three years before came o\ er in llie MaxHoucr, 
they had risked all to better their condition, they 
had s(>ld all their possessions, ar.d with tlieir t!e- 
pender.t families had lucateil in thesj farawa\ loi- 



lOO IIISTOKV OF FORI FAIRl'IELI). 



est homes. And as all i-)!)ssibilit\" ol' rctiirnini;- was 
cut ol'l" when the Ma\ floxNcr raised her anchor and 
hoisted sails for her return xoxa^e, — so the\- 
were here to i;"o lorward, hei"e to subdue these For- 
ests, here to let in the sunlii^ht, that it miij,-ht warm 
the soil, dr\ up the dampness, chan^'c the seasons, 
and make this drear\- and Forbidding desolation the 
garden of the State. The\- were hereto stay: for to 
turnback w. is death, tlieir onK' wa\' was to do or die. 
Tvike them the\ were firm beliexers in an on errul- 
ing and gracious I^roNidence. To them the seed 
time and the h:ir\est were a \erit\-; to them hard- 
sliip and prixations were a discipline, and with them 
the minister, the church, the schoolhouse and the 
teacher, were as necessar\- as the bi'cad and cloth- 
ing lor tlieir Families. Faith in (jod inspired in 
them Faith in themscKes. and Failure became an 
impossibilit\-, and success became assured. Like 
them, present dut\- and faith in a brighter and more 
prosperous future was their guiding star. The for- 
est fell before the woodman's axe, and the waving 
grain 'was gathered, and the work of transformation 
steadiK' and persistenth' went forward. 

Like them, they builded better than they knew. 
If we turn back to the chxse of the first Fifty years 
of the Pl\-mouth Colon\- and carefully stud}- its his- 
torw we shall tind that it in no way compares with 
the rich har\est that has been gathered from the 
toil. }')riN'ations and indomitable \\ill (T" the Aroos- 
took pioneers. 




STREET VIEW PROM LEADER OFFICE 



li:s|-()KV Ol" lOlM" lAlKl llll.l). 



'^'.^ 



CilAl'li-:R Xl\'. 
i.r.i ri:K d im.ania'iion. 

h was not to be expected that American eili/ens 
would be content to t'oie-o the prixileoe ol^i voice 
in the selection of their riders. Our Torefathers 
resisted the liritish crown because of t ixation 
without representation. Oar lathers planned T-.r 
representation w ilhout taxation. 

Tn; lc/i>li:.irc ia th ; wlntr; ol' i S p) pi^^J.l an 
act. Tor the or.uani/ation ol' plantations for election 
purposes. This organization -ave all the ri-hts ol 
franchise, in the election of State, national and 
countv olVicers, and consisted ol' a board (^1 as- 
sessors and clerk, and ni ide wj prjvision for raisin- 
nione\ b\ taxation lor any purpose whatever. 

At Ihe S.-pteniber cdection in iSp> the nearest 
,,la:e (M'xotin- was I loulton, and L'apt.John I'.. 
Win-, 1). K. llobir; ol' l^esqne Me and Alnion S. 
Kichards went t . Ilouhon to \ ote al the State 
eleclon. 



I04 lIIbTORV OF FORT FAIRl-'IELD. 

On October 19, 1840, ''Letter D" and Ph-mouth 
Grant inRan^-c 1, "Letters F, G and H" and Eaton 
Grant in Rans>-e 2 and Townships 12 and 13 in Rans^e 
3 were or^'anized as Pres(]iie Isle plantation, and 
Veraniis Chandler, Silas Blod^ett and Isaac Mc- 
Donald were chosen assessors. On September 4, 
1841, '"'Letters D and E"and Ph-niouth Grant Ran<i;e 
I, "Letter 11" and Eaton Grant Ran<2;e 2 were 
organized with John B. ^^'in^^ Abel IIumphr\- and 
AVilliam Johnston, assessors, and E. AV. A\ aite 
clerk. The next plantation on the lower Aroos- 
took to organize, was Caribou. This embraced 
Lettei'sll and 1 Range 2, and was organized .\.]iril 
24, iS4Sand in 1854, Elaton (ii-ant and the west 
half of I^hmouth Cirant became a sej')arate plan- 
tation organization. 

The otlicers consisted oi' a m<,derat(;i- who pre- 
sided at the annual meeting: a clerk, who was re- 
quired to keep a record oi' the proceedings, and 
three assessors, whose dut\' consisted in deciding 
as to who was entitled to \()te, counting and de- 
claring the x'otes, and making the jiroper returns. 

It is doubtful just when or how the original 
Letter D Phuitation became organized with power 
to assess taxes; but as the necessit\' lor schools be- 
came apparent, the people demanded taxation to 
support them, and the raising money for roads and 
oUkt jnirpust'.?* imlil tin- buiir^l of o(1ic<;i>i with 
ihUirR iis fr(Mieriil n^ those in 1o^vn^ nvvmt in nvli^ v' 



II1S■|•()1<^ Ol" l-OKl' KAIK I- ! i;i.i). 



lo; 



(operation. At these carlv plantation mcctinns 
part\- lines wei'e strietK' drawn, as it was all im- 
portant that our side eontrolled the deeision as to 
w h(» had the riuht to \()te. and experienee had not 
lu-en slow to teaeh tliat it niacK- a \ ast dilTerenee 
w hether the applieant I'or the hi,L;h honoi- of east- 
ing- a ballot intended to vote for or ai^ainst the 
parl\ wlio eontrolled the polls. Often times at the 
annual plantation eleetion exeitement i-an hiiih. 
l''\ er\ man within the territorial limits, would be 
found at the pollinii' plaee, and if b\" reason of siek- 
n?ss one was detained at home. the\' wei'e so e\ en- 
1\- di\ ided as to affeet the result. While a larue 
proportion of the new settlers were menoldeeided 
eon\ ietions and stroni^' partisans, there was alwass 
an element open to eon\ ietion. and the sti'ono'er 
intluenee and other indueements wei\' a faetor 
that was to be taken into eonsideration in the fmal 
results. 

The annual '"Mareh meetini^*' — whieh was held 
in April — and tlu' State and national eleetions, wei^e 
important events, together with the fouith of Iul\-. 
that brought tin- j^eople together, kept the tiirs ol' 
l")atri()tism burniiiL;-, and Kit an abiding- eonseious- 
ness in r\ er\ minil that the future destiiu' ol' state 
and nation depended upon their intluenee and xote. 

'i'he strange antl unaeeountable tliin^' was, that 
so man\' unreasonable and ridieulous things eould 
be enaeted in the name oflibertx and ecjual rii^hts. 



io6 



IIIS'I'ORV OI-' I"()I^' 



i"Aii^i"[i:i.i). 



without in t'lc Icnst clestroNin^ I'n.ith in. or losinjj,' 
I'cspcct lor, the sacred rites of th.c haUot, Kacli 
and c'\ cr\- ccniini;" together for ck'Cti(;n pnrj^oscs 
was a cli\ crsion and recreation. Ivich election was 
a reminder tliat we. although conipletel\' isolated 
Irom Tornier h(,mes ar.d IVieauls, were .\nieiican 
citizens, \vith all the inherent power of an\- others, 
or with other e(ji!a! numb-ei"s in the richest, most 
]")opuloi:s and oldest portion oi" the land. A care- 
ful stud\' of situation from the standpoint of resudts 
conxinces us that the ballot was tpiite as much a 
l^ower in keepinii,' up the spirit ofpatriotism, and in 
winning- to oui" form of o-()\ crnment and institutions 
those familiar witli and loxal to another, as in its 
intlu.ence in decidin;^- elections and intluencinL!,' g'ox- 
ernmcp.tal affairs. Fn this we do not wish to he 
understood as in an\- \\"a\' belittlinLj,". or placing' a 
l;)w estin.iate u.pon this secret, silent but omnipres- 
ent power in American politics. 

I^^rom the e::rliesL settlement ii. New England, 
the righ.t of rc] reser.tation had been a cherished 
thought, a component part o1 true and dignilied 
manhood. 

A goxernment b\- the pe;>ple, coupled with "we 
are the people.' became the central idea ol ecjual 
and exact rights. 

Tile ballot became m;)re and m:)re the p^wer 
for all that was right and the destroNcr of all that 
w;;s wrong. in those plantation days the number 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIFLD. 



107 



()(■ ballots c.'ist in pi-oportion to the actual niinibcr 
of Notcrs was Li,Tcatcr than in olcU'rand more thick- 
1\- populated eoniniunities. And it' we mistake 
not. as intelliuent and eonseientious ballots were 
east as in an\ part of the land. ,3 



io8 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIEIJ). 



CHAPTER X\\ 

IM.AN'JWTIOX MFFTIXGS. 

The lirst political ()r<2,'anizati()i"i in this town was 
cl't'cctcd in r(S42 under the vStatc law. It was for 
election purposes onl\- and was under the name of 
"Letter 1^ Plantation." I'he organization was 
effected hv the choice of a moderator to preside 
at the annual meeting, which was ibr the election 
of plantation officers, to consist of three assessors 
who were to be judges of tlie right of franchise, pre- 
side and keep order at the annual elections, receive, 
sort, count and make offiei;d returns of the ^"otes; 
and a clerk, who kept a correct record of all proceed- 
ings at both the annual spring election of planta- 
tion officers, and of the September election returns. 
To this was added tlie important dut\- of posting 
all notices of intentions of marriage, and for the 
moderate sum ol' tift\- cents to supply the interest- 
ed parties with a certificate, setting i'ortli that such 
duty had been legally peribrmed. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



109 



The election of plantation ollieers N\as con- 
sidered a matter oi' considerable importance. Party 
politics often ran lii^h, and with parties about 
cquallx- di\ idcd, some s'harp practices were resort- 
ed to in carrvinu" the day. The names of Whii^- and 
Democrat were olten held up and their principles 
ad\ ocated with as much earnestness as il the most 
sacred ri^-hts, and present, if not eternal interests, 
were invohed. At one election it was e\ ident that 
a most determined iluht was to be made. Mr. Atl- 
dison I\)wers. who had made many jxa-sonal friends, 
was the \\'hig candidate for moderator, antl when 
thj vote was declare:! it was seen that he had been 
elected hv onl\- one majority. Hie next \()te, lor 
clei-k, was looked forward to with much anxiety. 
The Democrats had j^laced in nomination a \ cry 
popular and estimable younu' man: the \\'hiu> had 
also put in nomination a youn^- man who had cast 
liis first vote that mnrnin;^- lor m )der.Uor. Tiie can- 
\-ass became c]uite e.xcitinu-, and the two candidates 
did not lack interest in the proceedings. In the 
hei<^ht of the excitenrjnt the Democratic candidate 
a]")proached iiis competitor and (;ffered to exchanue 
\()tes wilh him. This )iropo:^ition was Ikitly relused. 
and su|->plemented \\\\h the remark, — "that he did 
U'A propcjse to be cheated by such a trans.iction. 
This reply was promptly resented, as it had a right 
l«) be, from the islnndpoini in which it luulbeen re- 
eelNeO. I"'"!- no me m1i" knew ihnl y'uin;.,' niiiii 



I lO 



IlIS'l'OKY ():■" FOiri' FAIRFIELD. 



would question ibr a moment tliat if lie had in cx- 
clrmg'c lor his ow:i \ ,)te, t iken th'j one for his W'lii^- 
opp;)nenL, he \v.)uld h:i\ e m )st sajredl\- dep;)sited 
it in the baUot box. .Vnd when a demand was 
m;ide Ibr the reas;)n Ibr m ikin^- saeh an insinuati )n, 
a most p()siti\e denial was made of ha\ inL;- done 
so. rVat when asked what he did mea!i, he said: 
*'^'ou would ha\ e h r.l a ehanee to xote for a lo^•al 
Whi^% and I should he eompelled to \(>te for a 
Demoer.it." 'I'he Wdiii:,- then stepped up to the 
polls and east a xote for himself amidst heart\' 
eheei\s. And wlien the xotes were eounteil and it 
was found that he was eleeteil h\- an inereased ma- 
joritN'. more than one attributj.l his elejtion to that 
reply. 

These plantation mjetini;\s pro\"ed olreil benefit 
to the new settlement, be reason of tlieir brin^in^" 
toi>-ether the two distinct and separ.ite elasses who 
made u]^ this settlenunt: those wlio were made 
citizens and ^■oters be the W'ebster-Ashburton 
treat\- and th'ose wlio came here Irom •"outside" 
(an\where beNond the loni;- and dre ir\' uoods 
from Mattawamkea;;" Point to Houllon). In 1840 
these tw;) classes were absoluteh' distinct and sepa- 
rate from e:ieh otiier: the one here by authority 
from the Britisli ero\\n, and in hearty symjiathy 
with their customs and institutions; the other hnal 
to and proud of their Americanism antl Republican 
instituti(jns. Something'- luore allurine.' than the 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRI I l.l-D. II3 



scttino- up of a ^-ovcrnnTJiit for wliicli iItjv 1i;u1 no 
respect, was rcqMircd to call them out. and the 
political excitement and parly opposition was a 
\aluable adjunct in hrinoin,^- this really forei.u-n 
element into harmony and unity with their Ameri- 
can cousins. 

Among the active workers in lormin^- and brin_u-- 
\ivx into harmony these distinct and separate, if not 
opposing- factions, Capt. Stephen B. Pattee, lion. 
John B. Trafton, George A. Nurse, K. Parlin 
Whitney. Charles R. Paul Elbridge W. Wait." 
and Almon S. Richards were the most successful 
and elTicie^' ^^ "-kers. It is, however, ext.-emely 
doubtful i w >-.dd have succeeded if it h r.l 

not h22:\ r >g up of a new lin: of diff ji'- 

,. ; ^s and li;'. h" bitcles 0.1 pirLy linj'.. 

While agitaiio.i ..ad discussion of party politics 
went on, not only at election times but through 
the year: and the tariff, the national bank, and 
i-nternal improvements became interesting subjects 
for evening discussion at home, among neighbors, 
and in the lumber camps; they did not disturb 
social relations or personal friendship. 

The real importance and scKual power of the 
plantation meetings will never be appreciated, save 
bv those who were active participants, careful 
observers and earnest sUidents, not only ot the 
institution itself, but of its inlluence upon the entire 
commuaitv; and then onlv when they come to 



114 



IIISrOKV OF I'OR'l" FAIKI'IELI), 



realize that its m\stic power lias made ol these 
eontlietiiii^- elements one people, broader in their 
opinions, more liberal in their prineiples and more 
de\ oted to their eountr\- and their homes. 



lIIS'i'OKN Ol' lOK'l' lAlKI Ii:i.l). 



I I 



CllAPlKR W'l. 

A MOOSl-: lir NT. 

In ihc fall of 1S44 some of the Maple (iro\c set- 
tlers had seen traeks and other marks that eon- 
vineed them that there were moose near by. 'I he 
ibilowino- March, with over four leet of snow and 
a ii'ood crust. the\- ori^-anized a moose hunt. One 
or two of the party had seen a bear and a wolf 
amonii" the mountains of old Oxford county. A\ ith 
these exceptions, the fox and the rabbit were the 
largest wild uame they had e\ er seen, and the liab- 
its of tlie moose and the manner ol" huntin<i- them 
were wholl\- unknown. The parly "1 tne. with 
two old tirelocks and an e(pial number of do^s. had 
proceeded but a short distance when they found 
old tracks in the snow . broken twii;s and liere and 
there bark uii:iwed iVom small trees. Soon the 
tracks beuan to look new. but nothing ansu erin^- to 
tin- hunters* idea ol" a moose yard put in an appear- 
ance, in fact, nothiiii;- shoit ol" seeinu' the snow- 
trodden dow n a^ complelelx as it was in their barn- 
\aid. woultl ha\e come up to theii- itUa of a moose 
\ard. Not one ol" the jiarty had the least idea that 



Il6 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

a moose was within a mile of them, when, coming 
up over a knoll, the}- saw standing not four rods 
away, three moose, and the two dogs, quietly look- 
ing at each other. E\ identl\- this was the first ex- 
perience of the moose and dogs, as it was of the 
hunters of the sight before them. The moose had 
to choose between standing their ground, and start- 
ing out through four feet of snow with a crust that 
cut like a knife. The dogs, who had approached 
very much nearer than the hunters cared to do, 
appeared to have the entire attention ofthe moose. 
As the huntei's leveled tlu'ir two old iirclocks, at 
least one of the part\- felt a greater desire to climb 
■d tree, than to follow up the moose, or even to re- 
main unprotected at so short a distance from the 
three wild. ungainU' looking animals before th-em. 
Onl}- one of the guns responded to the call tn.at was 
made, but that was enough to send the three moose 
through the deep snow, breaking through the hard 
crust at everv step. The dogs now began to under- 
stand the part the\' were to pla^•, and at the distance 
of ten rods brought the wounded moose to ba\-, and 
a well directed shot soon ended his life. The dogs 
were soon upon their track, and in less than half a 
mile held up the second moose, which was killed, 
but not I'litil he had seriously wounded the best 
dog. Tlie onl\- dog that proved to be of any use 
being wounded and unable to make any better time 
than the men on snowshoes, the chase was soon 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIEr.D. II7 

Lcivcn uyt, and the parU' returned to their homes 
well satisfied with their day's hunt. The next 
morn i no- a part of the oriL;inal hunting party, under 
the pretence of bringing in the liides and the rc- 
m;iin:'!>r of the meat, started in pursuit of the other 
mo g"oing a little o\er a mile from where 

the\' left the tracks the dav before, the}- came up- 
on the mo( '■ le clump of evergreen trees, 
ijD lam • . ) niMkc another start through 
the de. ■ h ird crnst. One or two good 
shots 1 .', which proved to be 
an old - . nearly or quite as large as both 
of tlie tw o-^s e;ii-oids I:'" ^ ''le day before. 

Thus ended the nv mt, the inexperienced 

hunters believing they had killed all that were in 
t'le \-ard. But in this they were mistaken, as it 
afterwards appeared. Before any of the moose 
were seen, the leader of the herd became alarmed 
and broke awa\- from his companions, aiul made 
for the lowlands at the head of the b'itxherbert 
brook, where a more experienced hunter succeed- 
ed in securing him a few days later. ^^'hile the 
moose meat was a most desirable addition to the 
scantv larders of several pioneer families, the ex- 
citement of the chas J prepared the way for raids uj^- 
on moose, caribou and deer, that soon dro\ e them 
from this and the town south of us, and was a haj">- 
pv di\ersion from the quiet oi' the long and dreary 
w inters. 



irS HISTORY OF FOI^T FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XVU. 
ix'ri':RFs'i'ix(; fac'I's. 

Wc arc not able to obtain a full list of jM'iccs in 
the .Vroost(X)k at an carl\- cla\", but in i-'^.^i a store 
was opened at the mouth of the Aroostook ri\er in 
New Brunswick where thev bou^-ht pii:e timber 
of the settlers at $3 per ton and paid in goods 
at the folloM'in<4" prices: Inferior prints :;o cents 
per ^'ard. l'hc\' tore webs ol' sheeting' in two 
lengthwise, and sold it half width at 50 cents per 
yard. Tobacco at v$i.5o per pound, boots from 
$(S to v$9 per pair, flour at $16 and herring at $iS 
per barrel. 

i\\'iM^io'ris:\r. 

Lo\e of coimtrx' and de^■otion to its institutions 
induced Captain John Ik AVing to start out on a 
horse back ride ol tilU' miles to cast his \ote for 
State and count\- officers; at Presque Isle he was 
joined by Mr. I). K. Ilobart. The\' had gone 
l^ut a little o\"er a mile when the^■ came to a small 
chopping belonging to Mr. Almon S. Richards. 
Mr. Richards had no horse to ride, but by an ac- 
comodating arrangement the\- ''rode and tied,' and 



HISTORY OF I'OKT FA 1 1< I 1 1: IJ). 



1 K) 



the two horses took the three men to Iloulton in 
time to \()tc. All three ol' these men were amoiiL;- 
the fn-st \oters at the Pres(|ue I^le ):)lantation 
election the same year. 

|L sTRF OF I'm: im:a(. i:. 

In the sprini;- oi" i S4 i John 1). W'inuantl William 
Johnston were ai')i'»ointecl jusliees of the Peace and 
Almon S. Richards Deputy SheriiT. He held 
this office lor two \ ears, and in iS_^^ Joseph h'ox 
Nvas appointed, and in 1N44 Charles W. I)ouii-hly. 
In 1^4.:; Daniel Lihb\- lu'ld the office t)!' Justice of 
the I\'ace. Some of the earliest marrianes in the 
\ alle\- were perlornKd In him and \\'illiam John- 
sion, who were both \ er\ popular with the youni^" 
]->eo]'»le of that day. 

IIII-: MAIL. — i'o>i' oFi-iei:. 

The nearest post olhce in 1840 was at Houiton, 
and arranuements was entered into by the xolun- 
teers with Da\ id l)ubar, to ^o to Iloulton once in 
two weeks aial brinu' them mail ar,d lake their 
letters there to mail. These trip.s w eic all made 
on loot and the mrdl hiVj: returned on iiis back. 

In the spring ol' 1N41 Daniel Libby agreed to 
carr\- the mail at Sio per trip, but was not obiigetl 
t' go ol'tener th.en ( nee in four w eek>, and llu- 
^.ime season W'airen A. lohnston was appoiiUeil 
special messenger I'or the United States otVicer>. 
and made trips to Iloulton a^ the business of the 
p:)st required. This ser\ ice w.is strictly for the 



I20 HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 

♦ 

rc^Tilars who came here in September 1841, and 
consisted of a company of United States Infantr\- 
under command of Captain Van Ness, with 
Lieutenants Michaels, Ricketts, and ^NlcCall; Dr. 
Coolidge, surgeon; Majcr Graham, paymaster; and 
\¥. II. Cary, commissary. These troops re- 
mained h.crc until September, 1843, when the)- 
were ordered to Eastport and subsequently to the 
Rio Grande, and to participate in the war with 
jNIexico. 

FIRST MITL. 

In the winter of 1840, Dudley F. Leavitt secured 
a grant of three thousand acres of land in this town- 
ship, upon the condition of building a mill for tlie 
benelit of the settlers. Leavitt sold out to Pattee 
and Frisbee, and in the fall of 1841 the mill was so 
nearly completed that they commenced sawing. In 
1842 the tirm was changed to Pattee and Hayward. 

THE FIRST HOUSE. 

The tirst framed house built in the township is 
now occupied b\- ^Nlr. A. P. Wellington. It was 
built hv James Fitzherbert near the mouth of the 
Fitzherbert brook, and was the one from which 
Land Agent iNIcIntyre was captured in the Aroos- 
took war. The lirst house built by private enter- 
prise was the Pattee house, built of squared hevrn 
timber, and for several ycar^ occupied by Hon. 
Jesse Drew. It is a low, red house, in front of 



iiisrom ()|- |-()i<r i'.\iki-ii:i.i). 



I 2 



which arc two larirc tamurac trees, at the lower vil- 
lane. 

'I'hc lirst houses biiih and oceupietl hv NoiinL;," 
married people, were, a double house at the lower 
\illage built b\- K. \\\ ^^^lite and Alnion S. .Rich- 
ards, and Capt. John 1). A\'inii"s house, the hrst on 
the noi-th side ol' Prestpie Isle street, 
'nil': Fii.'sr \[infsii:r. 

The lirst minister to \ isit the Aroostook was 
l\t'\ . ]. (j. Pin^ree, of the I'^ast .Maine Conference 
ol the .Methodist IC)Tisco]Tal Church. Mr. l^in^-rcc's 
circuit cxtentk'd IVom Masardis to the boundarx . 
At the h'oil he was cordialK" recei\ ed and liberall\' 
j^aitl, and lound some earnest Methodists. A\'e haw.' 
no record, but the probabilities are that he ori^an- 
i/ed a Methodist class while hei\'. in the summer 
ol' \^^^). 

I in: FiKsr ()!<(, AN I/, i; I) i in la ii. 

Re\ . Mr. McirilLConurcLi-ationlist. was sent hrre 
b\ the Maine- Missionary Society in the summer ol' 
iS_p^. I lis labors were \ er\- successful, and he 
Icund di-'xotrtl Irieiuls in the new settlement. 

In the summer of iN]]. in a small I ol;' hou.se in 
the .Maple ( iro\ e settlement, he ol•^■anized w hat has 
since become the strong- and inlluential L'on^ic- 
L^ational Church ol" Fort FairlicKl. 

I in: nioj si:rrij:i) .MiM>ri:K. 

Re\. Alphonso Korrers was the lirst settled 



124 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

minister in tlic township. lie seeiired a ^rar.t cf 
a lot o(" land I'roni tlie State, \\hieh he soon sold, as 
he had alread\- loeated a lot in a i^ood Methodist 
nei^'hborhood. I'he loi granted to h>ldei' Rogers 
is the one now owned and oceupied by Mr. Harry 
C Townsend. 

Tin: iTRsT se'iiooL. 
Charles Sti\ er, one of the '•ei\il posse,'"' taught 
the tirst sehool in Fort Fairfield in the winter of 
i(S39-4(). This sehool was kept in a loLi" building 
on the Fort Hill, and was eomposed of the follow- 
ing families. ^ iz: V>'illiam Johnston. Nathan John- 
ston, James Fitzherbert. John Dorse\-, .\bel Hr.m- 
]1^iry, John Rediker and Da\id Bu.rtzell. 

J'll^ Sr !5A15IFS. 

The hrst male ehild born in Fort Fairlield Nvas 
F^dward. son of John DorseN-, born in 1825, the first 
baby borii to any eoming alter or in eonneetion 
with the \\-;ir. was a girl balw at th.e United States 
otiieers* (juarters on F(,rt Hill, arid elaimed ibr 
her pa.rents. Lieutenant and Mrs. James Rieketts, 
and was ehristened '" Aristine," that being the pro- 
nuneiation gi\ en b\- the earl\- settlers to the Aroos- 
took. 

'ririL i-iR.s-i; i)i:ai"ii. 
llie tirst to meet the dread di.^tru\ er in the r.ew 
settlement was John Bubar, of M'hom an earh' 
settler saws: -"He died in October, r;S2S, and ^^Ms 



JIIS-|'ORS OK KOjiT l'AlRl-|i:iJ>. 



12 



buried upon the bank oC the Aroostook ri\cr. I 
spbl a pine tree into boards and hewed and jilaned 
tlieni for hiseollin: lu' beini^- the first liunian beini;' 
who (bed in wliat is now h^)rt h\iii1ield." 



126 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



e'lIAPTKR XIX. 

W IfFi'TICX R IXOl-J 1). 

Tlic lirst record oF Inciter I) plantation, except tlie 
simple fact ol' orLi^'aui/ation. and election returns in 
the olFice of the secretar\- of State, in which the lirst 
board oi olFcers was ii,i\en. is a warrant issued b\' 
li.^\^ Hyde. E. \\\ Iloyt and l^honias tannery. 
assessors of Letter I) j^lantation. to Mark Tralton 
jr., constable, requestini;- him to warn the le^'al 
Noters to meet at tlie school house near Fort Fair- 
held on Monda\-. the iith da\- of Apial, 1S53, to 
act on the lollowin^" articles: 

ist. To choose a Moderator to preside at said 
mcetini;,'. 

2d. To choose a Plantation L'lerk. 

3i'd. To choose three Assessors. 

4th. To choose a School L*()mmitteec. 

c;th. To choose a Treasurer. 

6th. To choose Constables. 

7th. To choose Sur\e\"ors ol Lumbei'. 

(Sth. To see what action the Plantation will take 
in reii;ard to the lei2,al sale of spirituous liquors. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



12' 



This was dated llic I'oiirth da\- ol' April. i.S:;:>,aiul 
attested to h\ II. W. ll\(lo. plantation clerk. 

At this meetinL^-. I^orter K. l\oss was eho^en 
moderator: llenr\- W. Ihtle, elerk. Alnion S. 
Riehards. Porter K. l^oss antl James iiishop, as- 
sessors. l\e\ . K. Knij^'ht and Oseo A. I'dlis. sehool 
committee ; L". II. F>llis. tax collector (and not one 
dollar of mone\' was Noti'd to be collected); C II. 
Kllis, C'hai-les I lai'mon and Stephen I^. Phipps. 
constables; and I"]. \\\ AVaite and Jesse S. A\erill, 
surNCN'orsoi" liimbei". On the eighth ailicK- of the 
warrant it was xoted. "that a man be appointed bv 
the assessors as a le^al a^ent Ibr the sale ol' 
spirituous litpiors, lor medical and mechanical pur- 
poses." 

The onl\ other plantation meeting- was at the 
September election, when i ^9 \()tes were cast for 
ii'o\ern()i\ At this meetiiiL;' Stephen I). Pattee re- 
ceixed one hundred and twent\-se\ en \(>tes lor 
representative to the Ici^islature, beinu' thirtx-ei^ht 
more than the partx' candidate secured Tor li,()\- 
ernoi'. 

In iS^.j.. Addi^(»n Powers was moderator ; II. \\ . 
II\cle. clerk; and l''reeman l^llis. jr., )onath;in 
IIo|"»kinson and Jesse S. Axerill. assessors. At 
this meetini;" Mark Tralton. Ji.. was chosen con- 
stable and collector, but as in the \ear bcCoic no 
monex was i-aised to be collected. 

At the March meelinL;- in iN^^ .\ddison Powers 



128 



HLSTOKV Ol'^ FOIi'l' l-'AIUiMl::i.U. 



was ao-ain chosen moderator, and Bradibrd Cum- 
min<;s. clci-k: l^^'conian Ellis, ]\\. Addison l^owcrs 
and A. I. Ivollins, assessors. 

At tliis meeting- there were two articles lookini;' 
to the raising- ol" nionev'. One for niakinii,- and re- 
pairing- roads and one lor the snjij^ort ol" schools. 
The first was j^assed o\ er without action, and a 
\"()te w.is taken to raise ('our hundred dollars lor the 
supi^oit ol schools, and carried, but at this ineelin^' 
as well as the two preceediiiL!," it. alt'iou^-h an 
article in the warrant called lor the election of a 
treasurer, no record is found that woudd indicate 
that an\"one h:id been ch:)se;i. 

On the 7th of Ma\", iS^S- :i second plantation 
meetinii; was held, at which Kdward S. Fowler was 
chosen moderator, and it was \"oted to raise lour 
hundred dollars ior the support of schools and six 
hundred to make and repair roads, and the supei"in- 
ter.dino- school committee and assessors were 
made a committee to dixide the plantation into 
school districts. At this mectinii,- Bradibrd Cum- 
miuLi's was chosen plantation treasurer. 

.\t the Mai"c!i meeting- of i.S:6. IIenr\- \\". rT\de 
was chosen moderatoi^. l>radlbrd Cummini^s. clerk, 
and H. \V. Hyde, Osco A. Ellis and Eben Richard- 
son, assessors. .\t this meetin^i' fiour hundred 
dollars was raised lor the support ol schools, one 
thousand dollars ibr roads, and one hundred dollars 
to de1ra\' ]')lantation charu'cs. 



IIISTOKV Ol- FOlM" FAIKl li:i>l). 



129 



Al tliis nijctin^- tlio warrant made no proNision 
Tor llic e-leclion oT a plantation trcasarcr, and 
slran^cas it ma\- appear, tlK' records show no action 
in re-^ard to tliat m iller. 

At this meeting- it was xotcd to hold future 
plantation nieetin^-s at the "Black Schoolhousr. ' 
(at the m;)uth of the Maple (jrove road). 

On the 24th da\- oF March, a called nieetinu' was 
held at the "lUack Schoolhouse,"' at which a num- 
ber of ehani>-es were made in the schc):)l districts, 
but no treasurer was chosen. 

At the March meetinu" of 1S57. Tliram Stevens 
was chosen mcKlcrator, and \\'i!liam V. Ilopkinson 
clerk; K. Knight, Hiram Ste\ens and i>. Cum- 
ming-s assessors, and ^^'illiam F. Ilojikinson treas- 
urer. 



130 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XMII. 

Till': FOKT rx i<S43. 

Tn tlu' sprino- of nS43, tlic boom tliat liad been 
placed in the ri^er to stop trespass timber, liad been 
sold b\' the State authorities, and was beini;- hauled 
to the mouth of the .\r()ost()ok t(^ be used I'or liold- 
inij; timber a.nd loi^s, so that the\' could be rai'ted 
before running- them to the St. John market. The 
snow had fallen to a i^i'^'^^l depth, and teams were 
unable to L;et supplies in to their camps, and were 
compelled b\- the tirst ol .\pril to mo\e out. 

"W^illiam Johnston AN'as keeping' a public house 
on a small scale, but CulK- up to the demands of 
the new countr\% under ordinarx' circunistances ; 
but on account of cutting- the boom from the ice, 
and teams and crews coming- out of the woods, his 
house was crowded to overtiowinLi'. 

In addition to the usual cc^mpany that made up 
the little settlement, the last of ?vlarch Capt. John 
B. ^^'in^• returned from i*iscata(juis county, with 
his nouul;- wife, a brother in law and a friend, Mr. 
Charles A\^. Doughty, who hatl also a lev, \'\'eeks 
before married a \\ife. Early in April a party of 
1'oui-. who had come t(^ make homes in tin- new 




TJlJi J. a. \\ il.i.iA.\lS BL(JCK. 




THE CUTTS AND SCATES BLOCK. 



lUSTOKV oi" i-OKi" iwiKi' ii:m). 



coiintrw were addrd to tin- number of i^niests at 
-Johnston's."' To sa\ that there was a liouseful is 
not putting it an\" too stronLil\ . 

Pattee ami Ila\warcl were keeping store at the 
h)wer \i!la,ue. Capt. \\'inu- was doin.Li- some trad- 
ing-, but on a \er\ small seale. J. llolmanCar\ 
was eommissarxon the Vnr{ Hill. There was a 
loL^- house a I'ew rods from where Mrs. M. A. l'>ast- 
man's house now stands, a blockhouse, and cook- 
house on the bank of the river, near where Mr. A. 
v. bihln's buiklin-s stand; Mr. Johnston's tax ern. 
where Mr. T. A. h'isher's residence stands, and the 
stable opposite, on the north side of the road: Mi. 
John ])orse\"s lo^ house, near where the L". 1*. K. 
dei^ot now stands, and a timber Iiouse and store 
combined at the lower \ilkme. and I'^it/.herbert's 
house at the mouth ol" the I'^it/.herbert brook. lU- 
sides the b)rt. otbcers and soldiers' tpiarters. com- 
niissiirx- store, blacksmith shop and cookhouse on 
Iw.rt Hill, these constituted all of I'ort l^^uriield 
in the spriui^- ol" iS.p;;. Alon^ the fixer banks m 
\ ery small clearings were, of the most humlde kind, 
the homes of the iirst settlers. 

In the sprin^Li" ol" IN];, there \x ere. in the territory 
noxx embraced in the toxx n of 1m. rt I'^iirtield. the 
b.Uoxxinu" settlers. — and possibly others whose 
'name> \x e hax c tailed to obtain. — xi/: William 
)..hn>ton. Stephen Ik Tattee. J. H. Win.u, Klbrid-e 
W. Waile. Alni-.n S. Kichard-. lliram Stex ens. 



134 



HISTORY OI'^ FORT FAIRFIELD. 



\\'i]li;im Whitnc\-, T.o\i II()\t, Jonathan Ilopkin- 
son, Daniel G. Palmer, Benjamin D. Eastman, Otis 
Eastman, IIenr\ C. Currier, Orrin Whitne\", E. 
l^arlin \Miitne\-. Freeman Ellis, Jr., Isaac F. Ellis, 
Addison Powers, Edward S. Fowler, Daniel Lib- 
by. Nathan Johnston, James Fitzherbert, Samuel 
Fitzherbert, Nicholas Dee, William Turner, James 
Campbell, Daniel Campbell, John Dorse^^ William 
Jones, CaKin P. Ste\ens, John Rediker, George 
Rediker, Gideon Deering, Charles Walton, Joseph 
Barnes, Cornelius L^■on, William Iloulton, Daniel 
Tucker. Sanford Johnson, John M. Hunt, Octave 
Carnie, Edward Johnston, Chase, Jesse S. Aver- 
ill, vStephen I']. Pliipps, Charles Haines. Charles W. 

Doun-lity, Caleb IJ. Ellis, A. W. Clark, Brag- 

dt)n, Josiah riunting, Samuel AW)rk, iNIiehael Mc- 
Kinney. Alexander McDoug-ald, Martin Murray, 
Joseph Nelson, John Argra\e, Abel IIumphre\", Jo- 
seph h'isher, Andrew Welsh, Samuel \"arney. Da- 
\ id Burtzell, Francis Boulier, Amos Bishop, \\'ill- 
iam Bishop, Joseph Findland, J. Ilolman Car\-, and 
the olHcers and CGmpan\- of of United States In- 
' l"aritr\' stationed on the hill. The land adjoinini^ 
the State road had all been taken b\- actual settlers, 
and all the centre road (Maple Grove) within oric 
mile of the south line ol" the township, and lienrv 
C. Currier had tx)mmenced a house north of tl:e 
Sta'e road, and opposite the mou.th of the centre 
lin;.' road. The impi^oNcments uj^on the l(;ts\aried 



iiisi()K\ oi- i()1;t fairi ii:i.i). 



fro:n the falling," ol' a lew trees to liold possession, 
to a eomfortable house and an openino" of ten acres, 
but the impr()\enient would seareeh" a\ eraue more 
than a small \o<x house and a elearin^- of ti\e aeres 
of land. 



136 



IIIS'l'ORV OF Foirr fairfield. 



CHAPTER XX. 

w iiri"ri:x i^ix'or d — toxTixii:!). 

On Mondiu- ^Nlarch 2c)th, 1.S3S, the l;ist plantation 
meeting- was held at the lUaek Schoolhouse. 

Edward S. h^)w]er was eliosen moderator; 
Ilenrx' \\\ II\de and (). .\. P'llis. assessors; and 
on the same da\- the seeretar\- of State eertitied 
that an aet to ineorporate the town of h^oi-t l^^iir- 
held had passed the leqis'at nx' and lu'en signed 
hv Cjo\ernor Lot M. ^lorrill. and on the i()th 
daN' of April, iJSs-S, a t( w.i meeting- was held 
to perfeet the or^-ani/ation and eleet town otiieers. 
Edward S. I'^owler, moderator; II. ^\^ Ihde. town 
clerk; (). A. Ellis, Erederick Ellis and William E. 
Ilopkinson, selectmen, assessors and o\erseers oi' 
tlie poor; 'I'homas IFoxt was chosen town treasurer 
and h^i'ceman k^llis. )r., town a^ent. 

At this first town meeting' onl\" $2^0 N\as 
raised for schools and $<S()o lor the hi^hwaws and 
brid^'es. 

'I'he iollowin^- men, i^-ood and true, were pre- 
sented as a juror list and accepted b\' the town. \i/. : 



III>1()KN OK FORT FAIRFIELD. 1^7 



]cssc Drew, Hiram Slrxcns. (icorLiv W. Ilaims, 
Stillman (iordoii. Lc\i Iloxt.jolin l-\ I-:ili>. 1 Knr\- 
L'. Currier and I->n()».-li W. Iloyt. 

The oriii-inal act of incorporation ol' the town ol 
lM)rt 1-^iirficlcl. niadc the Aroostook ri\cr in place 
ol" the township line, the north line of the town. I))' 
this action a lew lot> in Letter I) were attached to 
Sai-slield plantation and so much of the oriuinal 
l^lymouth Cirant as lay south of the i-i\er. a j^art ol" 
l*^)rt Fairfield. 

We have no means of determininu- the exact 
population ol" the town at this time, but do not 
think it materially differed from a pro mlu increase 
from 1S50 to iSCxx which would make it eiii-lit 
hundi-ed. In iSfx) it was nine hundred and one. with 
one hundred and si.\ty-se\ en polls with a valuation 
(,r $75,975. In iS5(). Jesse S. Avcrill was moder- 
ator: 11. A\'. Ihde, clerk: William K. Ilopkinson, 
Jesse Drew ancl (ieorue W. Haines, selectmen. 

k'or the March meeting of i SC)0. tlu- warrant was 
issued to I'reeman l\llis ji.. co^^taMe. and signed 
In William V . Ilopkinson. Jesse Drew and (ieor^e 
W. 1 laines. selectmen. 

At the town meeting on March 2<). iS()0. Still- 
man (iordon was chosen moderator: llem\ W . 
ll\de. clerk: William J-MIopkinson. Albion )'. Wel- 
.linuton and h'rederick l-"Jlis. selectmen: \ oted to 
raise $i,^\^(), as iollows. \i/: S450 for the support 
of schools, $1,000 for the repair of highways and 



138 HISTORY OF FOIiT FAIRFIELD. 

$200 to dcfnu' town expenses. 

For the Mareh meeting- of 1S65 the warrant was 
issued to Da\ id X. Ross, eonstable; and signed bv 
William Small, A. C. Cai-\- and Jesse S. Avcrill, 
seleetmen. 

At this town meeting held March 13, iH6^, C. II. 
r^llis was chosen moderator; IIenr\- AY. Ihde, clerk : 
William Small. A. C. Tary and ]. IT. Randall, 
selectmen. .\t- this meeting \(>ted to i^aise S\v" 
72:;, \\'A'. h^)r schools $700, for roads $2,500. Cor the 
town ]i()or$275, and lor tow 11 expenses $250. 

This meeting adjourned to meet in two weeks. 
At the adjourned meeting |. II. Randall was ex- 
cused from ser\"ing as selectman and .Vddison 
Powers was chosen to iill the \"acanc^■. X^oted to 
bu\" the schoolhouse from district Xo. 3 ior $450, 
and authorized the selectmen to issue town orders 
to pa\- For the same. \^)ted to raise $160 towards 
the pavment of a town house. 

In 1S65 the demand for a bridge o\er the Aroos- 
took ri\ er h;id become so urgent that the matter 
was brought bet'oi-e the legislature and an appi'o- 
piiation ob.tained to aid in that work to the amount 
of $2,500. 

PKiiiouth (irant. which had become an organized 
plantation and known as Sarsheld plantation, in 
the winter of i<sr)7. was, h\ an act of the legisla- 
ture, annexed to the town oF l^^)rt Pairheld. 

The fu'st annual meetin!>' ol' the oriiiinal Letter 



iiisroKY oi" i"()i;r faiki-ii:i.i). !_:;() 



D, Rani::c i,and PlNinouth (irant united and orjjfan- 

i/cd b\' k'<j,"isl.iti\ c enactments into the town of 
Fort Faiiiield, was held in the town hall in the 
Nillaue of l-'ort I'^aiiiield, ?\!areh 25th, ilSdy. 

At this meeting" ). !?. 'I'ral'ton, Esq., was chosen 
moderator; IIenr\\\'. Ihde, clerk; William Small, 
Hiram Ste\ens and A. S. Towr.send, selectmen; 
II. W. 1 I \ de. tieasr.rer. At this meeting- $5,900 
was raised as follows: h\)r schools $1,100, for the 
poor $350, to def'rax' town charL;es $450, for roads 
and bridsxc's $4,000; and Noted that Isaac Hacker, 
lliiam Stexer.s, l^'adlord Ci;mmini;"s. Henr\ AW 
H\cle aiid J'^lhridi^e J. Pattee be a committee to 
solicit subscrij^.tions to aitl in IniildinL;- a bridge 
across th.e Ai"ooslook ri\c'r at or near the \ illaj^e 
of I'^jrt I'\iirtn.-ld in conjunction witli the ai'>pi"oi")ria- 
tion In ihe State legislature, with j^owei" to hoKl 
the town res]")onsible lor a )")art of the amount 
necessarx', and at their discretion to commence the 
work. 

At a town meetini^- held September J4, 1N57. it 
was Noted to extend the time lor complctiuL;- tb.e 
jiiers and abutments of the bridLic. 

At the March meetinn" in iS()S, the committee 
was Liixen lull jtower to close a contract with 
James Dovle antl to l;"<> lorward with the construc- 
tion ol the bridue. 

In No\ ember, i S^S, at a special t(iwn n:eetini,^ 
it became necessar\- to aulhori/e the bridge com- 



140 HISTORY OF FOKT FAI R I< I ICI.D. 



niittec to extend the time lor tlie eonipletion oi' the 
bridge, if in their opinion it was expedient. The 
time was extended and the following- \ear tliis 
most desirable objeet was aeeomplished. 

The inerease in population and ehildi'en ol' school 
a<;"e made the adjustment ol" school district lines 
one of the most difficult questions to consider, and 
was the cause of se\ eral special j^lantation and 
town mcetiniis. 



IIISTOKV OF |-()R'I' lAIKIIICl.Il. 



^■i:-, 



CIIAPTKR XXI. 

WKi ri-i:.\ iiisioKY — ro.NiiM i:i>. 

In iNyo. A. \\ Wellington, Isaac IlackL-rand 
R. S. llo', I. \VLM\' selectmen. The total \ alue ol real 
estates was Si55.57(), antl ol" personal estates ^()().- 
()4() a-nd the total assessment was $7,159.;^"^. This 
\ear there was reeei\ ed I'rom the State treasui-er 
0:1 a.-eount of sohJ.iers rurnishetl under the se\ eral 
calls of the President for soldiers to put down the 
rebellion, S5/)7S, and b\ the treasurer's rejiort it 
appears that 81,203.12 was paid out to soldiei>. 
The report for this says: 

••It is claimed b}- s;)nie,that the town has the ri^uht 
to take Croni the money reeei\ed tlie whole anvumt 
it paiil out as bounties, \i/. : vS2.(\^'k5(). 

'•ITthis eonstruelion >)!" the law is correct there is 
due to soldiers $i..S_^S. 

-It is also ela.imed by .^ome that the town ha^ 
a ri-ht to take t>nly the amount it ha^ reimbursed, 
\i/: Sioo for the lliree \ears" men to whom it jiaicl 
Sioo bounty (or more), and a like proportion for 
a less term of sej\ice \ iz : SiScmi. If ihis con- 



144 iiisioRv OK I'oirr faikj-iicld. 



struction of the law is correct there is (]uc to 
soldiers, $2.675.2 1."* A I'oot-note attached to the 
report of resources and liabilities sa^■s: 

••Th.ese 'amounts will \ ar\- as the amount due 
soldiers ma\' be altered."' TheaboNcis a:i acknow- 
ledLicmeiit of beinii' custodian of an amount of 
mone\' received iVom the State tre;isurer for a 
specihc jmi^pose. Subse(|'.;entl\- this became a 
subject of dispute, and the mone\' was appropriated 
to the use of the town, and remains unpaid to the 
soldiers up.til the present time. At the March 
meeting- of iN(j4, (jeor<4'e W. l\!astman i"e\i\'ed the 
w hole subject, antl ma.de a \ er\' abk' and con- 
\iiui!iL;' speech in i"a\ or oiappropriatinu' the moncN' 
to tlu- buikiin^' ol" a soldiers* monument. There was 
no disa'4i\'.'nK-iU as t') the justice ol's.ich a procecd- 
inu', but on acc( u:U of tlu' slat*.- of lie tow n's tinaiices, 
it was n(/t thought ad\ isable to make the aj"))")r(v 
I'jriation. i>oth the honor oi' the town and justice 
to the deceased soldiers -ani,! iheir IViends from 
which it has been withheld, indicate tliat it will 
subset]uentl\' be done. 

In I'^y;, th.e lion. \. Fessenden, Almon S. 
Richards and I. V. Blaisdell were chosen selectmen, 
aiul 1- b. Hacker, town treasurer. 

ddie cash assessment was $0,02 1.95, as lolh)ws: 
for seho:d ; vSi,:^ i(\.|o, paupers vSi,ooo, town lx- 
jxuises Si, 200. free liii^h school ,$250. lockup vSi^o, 
liL!htini>- bridue vS2(). o\erla\ini>- Si:;.;;:;, suiiple- 



lll^ll)K^ oi-- i'()i;r iai u i- 1 i;i.i). 115 

nu-ntarx- t:ix $4, State tax Siiio.^n. c<iuni\ Lax 
S7()i.20, and v$C">,oo() Inr tlic hiLihwax s. 

In AiiiiT.st ol" this year the boiuK <>1" the 
town were issued in aeeord with thexote of the town 
at a meetinu' held on \o\ ember 4. 1^74. in .'dd olthe 
raih-oad tliat was then eoniin^-to the town, d he^e 
bonds wei-e to vv.n twenty ye.irs at six per eent. 
senii-anniial interest. Wddle it is true that the semi- 
annual paNinentofthe interest and the final pa\nient 
ol" the bond will be a hea\ y tax upon the town, there 
can be no (piestion but it has pro\ ed a \aluable in- 
ve-itnunt i'or the inhabitants ol' the town. 

in iSSo there were two thousand eiiiht hundred 
and se\en inhabitants in l'^)rt b^uitield. The 
\aluation ol' estates was S46S.471. X. l-\".-^senden, 
R. L. Baker a ul 1) .W. Conant. were selejtmjn: W. 
'r. SjHMr. elerk: and J. U\ Ilaeker. ti-easurer. The 
eash assessment was $8,377.52. as I'ollows: 

State tax $\.;\^j.(y^\ eounty t ix SS():5._:5o. Sv.-hools 
$1,^10.40. i".o;a- (-ne thousand dollars, t )wn ex- 
penses one thor.s.ind dollars, interest one t'.iousand 
three hundred dollars, liiihtinu- brid,u-e S75. railroad 
sinking I'u.p.d loan S-iiS.^o. new I'oads $500. o\er- 

la\ inu' S;^^--7-- 

In iNS;. the t(.w n madi' ehoiee (d L. N. 
Riehartls. L". M. lloit and L. (I. Riehardson, I'or 
seleetmen: j. i*'. Ilaeker. treasurer; II. N.Ciood- 
liue, town elerk: II. O. Perry supervisor. The 
\aluation of estates was S5.4(),;^7o, and the p.i;niber 



146 msTORv OF FOirr Fairfield. 

of polls six luiiKlrccl and loi'tN': thccisli tax assessed 
for tliat ^■car was v^ 13,436.7 7. H^c State tax had 
L:;one up to St, 762 and the eouiil\ tax to $990, for 
the support of schools, ^^2,24:; and loi- a new school- 
house in the xillag'e $1,600, .uul the interest on the 
bonded debt was $1,750. The support oi" the poor 
now cost the town about $1,000 a \ear. 

]n TS9othe census returns ii'a\e I'ort Fairheld 
thi-ee tliousand li\ e hundred and t\vent\-six ir.- 
habitants. seven hundred and ti\e polls were as- 
sessed, and the real estate was assessed at $464, 15S 
and the personal propert\- at $i4<S.ioo. making- a 
total oi" $6 1 4,25s. 

The cash tax lor this \ ear M'as s i5,54<S,2_:> ; a 
little oxer one third ol this amount was included 
in the I'oIIona ino- ih e items, all lor the adxance of 
educational interest, \iz: 

l'"or common schools ,^2,800, lor free hi^h school 
,^750, to purchase free textbooks for schools $600, 
hnishinii-, furnishing-, and repairing- schoolhouses 
$500, to build a schoolhouse in tlie I'lummer 
district ,^600, <j,i\ in<2,- a total ol ,^5,250. 

The purchase of a town farm lor a home for the 
}')Oor had added somewhat to the immediate ex- 
pense, but had reduced the actual expenses for the 
\ear nearl\- three hundred dollars. The liberal 
school p!)lic\', tlie ^'reat amount ol roads in the 
town six b\- twcKe miles square, together with the 
bridges, necessaril\' keeps up the amount ol 
mone\- annualK to be raised b\ the tax pa\ers. 



niSTOKV OF FOKT FAI R FI liLD. 



'47 



LllAPTI-R XXll. 

AC rs Ol' 1N(.()R I'Ol^ A'l'ION. 

It was not until iSvS that dctinitc action was 
taken to secure the or^ani/ation ol' th.e town ot 
Fort I'^iirtieUl, wlien tlie iollowini: act of incor- 
j~)oration was )">asse(.l : . 

ST A lie OF MAIM'.. 

In the \ear of our Lord or.e thousand ei^ht 
hundred and t'li'ty-eii^ht. 

An act to incorporate the town of I•^)rt I-'airlield. 

lU' il cDiiclcd hx Ihc Senate aint House of irprc- 
srii/ir fives in f.e^-islirfii re (rss:'////>/e(/. crs /o//o:.-s : 

Si-:i rioN I. So much ol' townshi)-) Letter I), first 
ranue west i'roni the east line ol" the State, in the 
C()unt\- of Aroostook, as lies south ol' the Aroos- 
took ri\er. touether with as much of the township 
granted to the tow n ol' Llymouth, as lies southeast- 
erl\- of the s;ime ri\ I'l", i> herc-b\ incoiporated into 
a town b\ the name ol" h'orl h^iirtield. and the in- 
habitants of said town are hereby \ ested w ith all 
the powers, pii\ ileiics, immunities and liabilities ol 
inhabitants ol" other tow ns. 



J4<S HISTORY OV rOJJT FAIRFIELD. 

Section 2. Any justice of the peace within the 
county of Aroostook, is hereby empowered to issue 
his warrant to some inhabitant ol said town, direct- 
ing him to notif\- the inhabitants thereof to meet at 
such time and place as he s!iall appoint, to choose 
sucli othcers as other towns are empowered to 
choose at their annual town meetings. 

Section 3. The town hcreb\- created shall t;kj 
the effects belongint)- to plantation Letter ]), and 
shall also assume all the oliligations of s.iid plmta- 
tion. 

Section. 4. This act shall take effect from and 
after its appro\al b\' the (Toxcrnor. 



In piiic IIocsf, of Rici'REsF.xrA it\j:s, ) 

March 10, i85<S. ) 

This bill, ha\ing had three soxeral readings, 
passed to be enacted. 

JosiAii II. Drimmoni). Speaker. 



In the Senate. ) 
March i i, i(S58. j 
This bill, having had two sc\eral readings, passed 
to be enacted. 

Setii Sc'AMMon, President. 



March 1 1, 185S, 
Approxed. 



Lot M. Morrill. Governor. 



iiisi()K\ oi- i()i:r FAiKi ii:i.i). 



'-1<^ 



Sixi<i;iAi<\ or SiATi: ()i-|-u i:, ) 
Match 2i), 1N5N. \ 
I herein" certif'\- that ihc I'orc^oin^ is a true copy 
of the original in this otFice. 

Li:\\ i> I). M(M)Ri:, 
Dept. Secretar\' ol" State. 



On the I ith day of Ai^riK i S5S. William i^\ 11 op- 
kinson. a justice of the peace, issued his warrant 
to lonatiian llopkinson lor a meeting to be held at 
the lilack Schoolhouse, on Mondaw the i()th da\' 
olApril. at which time and place the meeting was 
hekl. and the town dul\- organized hv the choice of 
tin- s.-\(.'i\d town oIlicL-rs. 

It was not until t!ie necessit\ ol' a Itridge o\ er 
the Ar<)osto:)k i"i\er had forced itsi'l!" ui")on the in- 
habitants, that an\' seiious thought had been gi\cn 
to enlarging the limits of the newl\- organized town, 
in the legislature ol iS()- the following action in 
I'clation to the lu-w town was taken: 

^TA'l'l;: OF MAIN];. 

In the \ ear oi' our Lord one thousaiul eight hun- 
tlred and sixt\-se\ en. 

An act to annex Sarstield plantation to the t.)wn 
ol h'oil l-'aii-fK-ld, 

/>l' // cii acted h\ flic Sciiafc ami Iloii <: of' rcprc- 
sciifaf ivcy i I Lcghlatui-c ass: in bled, as fofloz:s : 

SKiTion I. Sarsfield plantation, composed of 
l*l\nionlh (irant towi^shij-), Ranue i, west from tne 



i^o 



iiisj'ORY OF Foirr faiufij:li). 



cast line (A' the vSt;itc, is herein* annexed to the 
town oC Fort I'^airtield. 

Section 2. .Vll uncolleeted taxes legalh' assessed 
in said plantation, shall be collected hv the collec- 
tor in said i*)lantation. and j^aid on er to the treasur- 
er of said town, and the lii^-hwaN' sur\ cNor shall 
aeeojnt with the selectmen of said town, the same 
as the\' arc now required to do witli the assessors 
of said plantation; and said town shall assume and 
pay all debts and liabilities of e\'erv description, of 
said plantation, and ma\" be sued therefore if not 
paid h\ them; and all rights of said plantation in 
lands sold or forfeited for taxe.-. therciii and not re- 
deemed are hereb\- transferred to said town and 
\csted in them as t'ull\- as the same ai'e now h.eld 
h\ said plantation. 

SiCC'i'iON 3. The school districts in said planta- 
tion shall remain as now or^-ani/.ed until altered b\ 
said town. 

Sicc'iTox 4. 'i'his act slia!! take ad'fect when aj:i- 
pro\ed h\ the Go\'ernor. 



L\ THE Hot r>E OF ReI'RESENTATIVES, I 

b\'bruary 1 1, 1867. j 
This bill ha\Ing liad three se\eral readings passed 
to be enacted. 

i^i:\\ js B.\kki;k, Speaker. 



Ix THE Senate, | 
February 12, 1S67. ) 
This bill haN ing had two scNcral readings pastrcd 
fo be enacted. 

X, A. Ijikfi:!-:, Presiderit. 



11IS|■()I<^ OI' FORT FAIRl'TELD. 



.">.•) 



l'\'bru;ir\ i 2, iN()y. 
Apj^roN ctl. 

). I .. L'li A Mr.i;i;i..\iN, ( ii)\ crnor. 

siA ri: oi" maim:. 
Oi FRi: o" 'iiiK Sfa I;l•:^.4K^ ov Siati:, f 

March 7. iH6-j. \ 

1 hcicln- c'crtifx that the l'()rc<;-oini2: is a true copy 
of the oriLiinal as clei^ositecl in this ollice. 

I \Mi:> 1 1. L'ntHKAM-:. 
Dept. Secretary ol' Srale. 
At the same sosion of the leuishiture the fol- 
low iiiL^- amended leuishition to aid in the luiildinu' 
ol' a britlue o\ ei" the Ai'oostook ri\ er. was secured, 

\ i/, : 

siAric ol" maim:. 

/i(S()/z\\ Amendinii- resol\ e entitled ""Resoh e in 
aid of IniildinL:- a bridue on ei" Aroostook ri\er at 
I'^ort [''airfield. ' 

/\('S(>/iu'(/, That the conditions ol' resobe en- 
titled "Resobe in aid ol" building- a biidue o\ er 
Aroostook ri\er at I'^irt h'aii-field/" approN ed h\'b- 
ruar\- t\vent\ -third, ei^'hteen luuulred and sixty- 
six, be so far niodilied as to allow the land auent 
lo \rA\ the sum of tilleen huiulred dollars when all 
nccessarv abutments and pier> n-quired in the 
erection ol" said bridge siiall ha\ e been completed 
of said britlii'e and beini;- the amount in full nauied 
in said resobe; and said bridn'e may be erectetl 
without re(juirii\u' the same to be •\o\cred as im- 
plied ill the res(;|\e referred to; and that beloie 
the pa\nient ol" any s^JHi ol' money the selectmen 
of said town of b^)il l^iii'lieUl shall certih lo the 



154 HISTORY OF FOIJT FAIRFIELD. 



l;ind a'4cnt that the abutments and piers ha\e been 
eonipleted, and iii readiness ta recei\e the super- 
structure, and in like niann.er when said bridii,"e 
shall be completed accordinii" to the intention, but 
wit'i the exception of the coNcrin'^- required in s.iid 
I'csobe. * 

I.\ iiiF IIoL >F OF i\i:iu^i:si:.\ iA'i'i\i:s. I 
r\'bruar\- 14, 1S67. ) 



I\ead and passed. 



Li: WIS Barkiir, Speaker 



Read and passed. 



In 'nii: Si:.\ ai 1;. I 
Kebrr.aiA' 16, 1S67. | 

X. A. BiKi'i:!:, Fresider.t. 

b\>bruar\- iS, 1867. 
.\ppr()\ed. 

|. ].. Cii A.\ii5i:ki.Ai\. (ioNcrnor. 



In a.ldition to the abo\e appropriation, the St.ite 
jKiid $1,000, and the bridge when completed cost 
abo:;t $6,000. The Ir.dldini^- of the bridiic, and 
maki!iii- passable the roads in the town in addition 
t ) sjhools and other town expenses, pr>)\ ed a hea\ y 
tax upon the inhabitants of the yoimi;- t(;wn. 'id^- 
records. howj\er, show a. spirit ol enterprise an.d 
libera! apprc-priatioiiS for the \arious dcmar.chs m;idc 
noon tiiern. In 1S70 th.e population w;is ei.ab'teen 



iiisioKV (;i" i"(ji;'r lAiKi' ii:i,i). 



hundred and iiinctv-thrcc. the minibcr ol' polls three 
hiindi'cd and si\t\-. and the Naliialion S276.S00. Al 
tlu' March mectinLi- oC tliis \ cai" Hon. ). 1). Tralton 
was chosen nioderatoi". IIenr\- \\\ ll\de clerk and 
A. P. Welliniiton. Isaac I lacker and R. L. Iloyt 
selectmen. 

At this meetinii' the town \"oted to raise v^.S.420. 
as I'olhiws: h\)r the support of schools Si.^^oo. for 
the sii]-)j")ort of the poor S:i:;o. to extinguish liabili- 
ties ol the to\N n in constructing; bridge across the 
Aroostook ri\er $Soo, to co\"er the bridge vSi.ooo. 
to pay ibr liiiht of wa\- to the bridge $20. to defrax" 
town chariics ior tlie \ ear S750. and lor the lepair 
of roads and brid^'cs $4,000. At this meeting the 
report ol the selectinen and the school committee 
who had been appointed at a subsequent meetinn-. 
was adopted, by which a careFul and m-)re satislac- 
tor\- districtinii' of the town for sch(!<)l purposes was 
made. 'i'he whole number of school districts in 
the town was twei".t\-; and the lollowiuLi- names were 
presented to be placed in the juror box, and accept- 
ed b\ the town: W'aiien S. Ames. ()lis Ames. 
.\mos liishoj-). Asa C L'ar\-, Joseph A. Conant. 
I5radford L'ummin^s. iJenoin T. Duriiin, L'harles 
\\\ Ivistman. \'alenline M. I'^stes. II. Lincoln boos- 
ter, Xoah (ioodrich. (Jec.rue W. I laiix's. John P. 
I lolt. John Johnston. Jophannis 1 1. Richaidson and 
Jesse S. Axt-rill. 



A^> 



HISTORY or I'OnT TAIUt'-nilJ). 



CHAPTER XXIIl. 
]:xti:r PRISE, 
.\t an c.irlv da\' some of Fort Fairticld's enter- 
prising- citizens bcg'an to realize the importance of 
a local newspaper, and after considerable dis- 
cussion it was decided to arrani^e with the Rew 
Daniel Stickne\- who for several years had pub- 
lished the Su/zn'sc at Presque Isle, to publish a 
paper for Fort Fairheld. And in kcepino- with the 
arrano-ement the ^iiiroia, dated and mailed at Fort 
Fairtield and printed in the S/uni'sc office at 
Presque Isle, with Daniel Stickney, editor, and 
Mrs. .\. C Paul, associate editor, appeared. In 
reo-ard to the name the first issue said editorially: 

THI': AlKOKA. 

\W^ ha\e been Irequenth- asked, what si^-niti- 
cance, fitness or appropriateness is there to the 
name '' Aiifoi-a" lor a newspaper? ^^"e will ex- 
]-)lain. 

.Vurora signifies the dawniny" li^ht. before sun- 
rise, daybreak, the mornino-. In ancient mythology 
she was the daughter ol' II\perion and Theo. and 



ins'ious ()!' I ciivi' i- Aii-ii- ii:i.i>. 



'57 



sister of Sol and Luna, or of the ^un and moon. 
She rises from the ocean, dr.iwn 1\\ the ei'k'stial 
horses, Lampns .xnd Ph:elon, and with rosy fniLiers 
raises the \eil ol' li,L;ht, shedding" li^lit upon the 
world, until she tlies Irom the splend:)r ofdiw 

The abo\ e is the definition and the poetical idea 
of Aurora. Now Ibr its sii;-nitieance. its appropri- 
ateness for the name ol* a paper, published at Vorl 
Fairfield. 

This \illa^-e is farther nortli and east than any 
other \ illaue in this union in which a newspaper 
is published. In northern latitudes Aurora, or 
the liiiht of mornino-, shines earlier upon Fort Fair- 
field than upon an\- spot in the United States in 
which a paper is published, henee the appropriate- 
ness ol" the first paper published in oin- \ illa^'e 
beino- known as the Ai{roj\r. 

A careful examination of the file of this j-iapei-. 
in the olliee of'the clerk of courts at Iloulton. shows 
it to ha\e been a well i^otten up and ably conduct-, 
ed local newspaper; but to our surprise the amount 
of jiati'onaiie,- as expressed through its ad\ ertisini^' 
cclumns, from the h'orl h'airlicld busiiiess men. did 
not exceed \\h\ dollars. How much the fact that 
it was printed in the S/zz/r/sc olliee at Prescpie Isle 
had to tlo with lack of" support, we shall ne\er 
know. That it died before six months old is no 
surprise. 

I hi: i-ik> r \i:\\ >i'.\i'i:i^. 

in Septembei-. 1^75. with the cominu of the rail- 
load. ajipeared the liist newsjiajH-r published in 



1 58 



IIISTCRY CF rCIvT FAIRFIELD. 



I'ort I'aii'ficld. 'I'hc railroad was on the nai'row 
Ji,'aiio;c plan, but the paper was a broad ^au^c, clear- 
cut, clean sheet, idled to oNcrHowin^- with ^ood 
things of interest to the ]")eople oF Fort Fairfield, 
'nil-: AROOSTOOK xai.lfy sfnrisk. 

After more than thirteen \ ears of active news- 
paper lil'e, the J^/csqur /s/r Sunj-isc w;is rernoxed 
to Fort Faii'beld and christened tlie .[I'oos/ool: 
l(if//<'y S/////-/s(\ and was the llrst Picwspaper e\er 
printed in the town. Jud^i n<j,- iVom the traPispirini;- 
e\ents, Mr. Sticknc\" did not meet with the encour- 
agement and support he had exjiected. In three 
months from its first appeara.nce lie sold out to his 
foreman, Charles E. ^larshall. ^^Ir. Marshall suc- 
ceeded in publishino- the paper ord\' three weeks, be- 
fore it failed up. Two months later Mr. Stickney was 
ai^^ain at the helm, and the S////r/sr shedding- light 
on all around. 

In August, 1877. ^Ir. StickncN" iinalK" sold out 
the S/uN-isr ar.d retired from the editorial field, and 
Mr. Edward A. L\nde became editor and proprie- 
\.o\\ and for between one and two \ears succeeded 
in I'uniiing the paper, some of the tinie at least at a 
''poor d\ing rate." AN'ith the going out of its light, 
h^)rt b'airfield was without a local paper until in 
the summer of iSgi, "Sir. II. ?sl. Orriss commenced 
the publication of the Fort Fairfield Hazel Il\ which 
he succeeded in publishing for a little more than 
one \ear. In the right hands his er.terprise would 



iii>iuKV oi' roiri- fairi-ii:m>. 



i^<) 



lia\c proNcd a success. But Mr. Orriss. who was 
an experienced b()()k-biiuler. had \ cry liule exper- 
ience as a newspaper nim. 

'II1I-: NOK riii:K.\ ij:ai)i:i;. 

jiily 1st, ](S92, with Si,ooo pledged ad\ ertisini;- 
and a small siibscription list, the I-^)rt I'^iirtield 
Printing- C()mpan\-, — C II. Kllis business r.ianauer 
and editor, — comnxniced the indiiication ol" the 
\orlJicrii Lender, at v$i.5() a year. Ikd'ore the k2\-\(\ 
of its tirst \ear, a second paper, the Ih-jcoii ( which 
was another name lor th.e ArojrJook Ih'inocraf, 
which had entered upon its fourth Nohme. ) was 
remo\ed Irom l*rest|r.e Isle to this \illaue. With 
its cominu' comnicnced a struL:\^le i'or lile. and as 
mi,Li"ht lri\e been expected, with ll:e ;id\ t rtisiu'^- 
j-)atronaLie larL^eh- seemed I'or the Lduicr, tlie Hca- 
con was compelled to submit to the inevitable : be- 
fore the close ol' the iirst year it sr.speiu'ed pi bli- 
cation. \\'it!i the beuinninu" ol iN(>..) the Lcaihi 
beca-iie sell" su.staininu'. ar.d the liberal and juili- 
cious ad\ ertisiuL'- b\ th.e bi:sii:ess men (I" th.e \ illa_L.e 
assure tiie future success of a local r.ewspaper in 
I-'ort Fair!ield. 

•rm: i;aii.i: )\:). 

The tiiiie h;:d C(-me wh.en railroad comnu:iiic;i- 
tion with th.e outside wt.vkl becinr.e a r.ccessity. 
Tlie t..wn had been libera! in xotinii- bonds, and the 
w .)'\ r.;i,i:i!\ i:irried towards coi-noleti jn. ar.d the 



l6o HISTORY OF FOPiT FAIRFIELD. 



FIRS'l" TIIAIN o;-' CARS 

crossed the b()und;ir\' line on Satiirdaw Xoxeniber 
13, 1N75. I'his was a red letter da\- for the town, 
as it mirked two important e\ents, — the pid:)lica- 
tion of the lirst newspaper and the arri\al oi the 
first railroad train. 'Idiere was now a general look- 
ing- forward to another interesting- and important 
da\", that woidd produce results of great moment 
to all the inhabitants of the town, — 

'llli: FOKMAI. ol'i:XIN(i 

ol the Xew liruriswick railroad. In all tlicse \ears 
it had been a good three da\ s going to Bangor. On 
Tucsda\", Xoxember 30, iSy:^, the connection be- 
came complete h\ rail to the (^leen L'itw It was 
a bleak, cokl da\', \et a large compaiu' assembled. 
Upon the arri\ ad of thv train, the "'Stars and stripes ' 
and thj "'Uni')- Jajk" were hoisleJ tog^-tlur, an:l tli- 
historic gun oTFort Fairtield belched forth its thun- 
der in a national salute, At the town hall Judge 
Small presided. Among the Pro\incial guests 
were Hon. Alexander Gibson, president ol' the 
New Brunswick railroad, Hon. j. |. Frazier, Pro- 
\incial secretary Hon. I>. B. Ste\cnson, sur\e\-or 
general, Hon. W^m. KellcN-, commissioner of jvab- 
lic works, Hon. ?*Ia\'or AW'tmore of Frederickt:rn, 
Hon. Ma\'or Laughton ol'St. John, numbers of jvir- 
liamenl, editors of new s}-»apers. railroad othcials 
a:u] other dislinguished gentlemen. 



tl 




THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



iii.sroRY OF lOKi r.\iKi-ii:iJ). 



^(^^ 



Speeches were made by President Ciibson, Jiidiie 
l'"isher of iM-cdericktun ami lloii. l-\ A. Pike ol 
e'alais. A bounlifiil collation was ser\ cd. and at 
six r. M. the company adjourned to the depot lor 
their return trip. lea\ in^- their lM)rt l-^iirheid friends 
in the happv eonseiousness that they were eonnee- 
chI with the outside world h\ rail. 



164 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



LlIAi^'riOR XXIW 
'|-iii': roTA'jo iNDi s'l'jo'. 

'i'lic ;id;ipt;ili()n (f Aroostook soil to the growth 
oL" tlic potato was carl\' obsciN cd by the settlers, 
but it was not until Mr. 1). (lath-ercole had built liis 
stai-eh 1;ietor\- that an\- one thought that potato rais- 
inij,' WMiild e\"er beeome a moriev-niakinii-. mr.eh less 
the leadinid", indi;str\ oi' the Aroostook \alle\". One 
of th^' jK'Jiiliiirilies (.>{' th.- ^'ankej is, tlial il' one sue- 
eei-ds in ^ellin^ a i^ood thini:-, he is ne\ei' allowed 
to enjoN- it aloM-.e. This lirst stcireh i'aetor\- was 
seareeh' in operation before Mr. Hedell liad or.o 
eomnieiiced in the Maple (7ro\-e settlemer:t. 'i'bese 
were th.e da\s of small thini.s; but with a sr.re lurir- 
ket f'oi- th.e small p/(;tat<;es at a priee wh.ieh would 
nc-arl\- pa\- for har\estin<4- the en.tire er<;]\ :;r.d a 
reasonable assurance tliat a r.iarket wordd r.lways 
be open lo th^em, ;.t a L(;od pa\ini;" } rice, fc r;dl tl (■ 
potatoes thc's' could raise, the two starch tactoricj 
became four, and the fame ol'the Aroostook potato 
w.uit out to all the land. 

Tlu- cm- obstacle in the wa\- of success appe;ired 



IIISTOUN' <^!- I"'->!! '■ I" AIKI'II'IJ). 



\h-. 



to be the drain made upon the land in the laisini;- 
of this erop. 'i'he amount ol' j^otash, to say nothing- 
ol'tlie nitrogen and jihosphorie aeid that a eroj") <»!' 
jtolatoes wou.ld take iVoni the soil, eon\ ineed them 
tliat withoi'.t some immediate remedy their farms 
would soon run out. A prompt and saeeessl'id 
remed\- was soon at hand: while there was su.s- 
jiicion and a hbei'al amount of doubt as to their \al- 
i:e, eommereial lertili/ers h.a\e steadily inereased 
in popularit\-, aiul to-day have become an absolute 
p.eeessit\- to secure the best results in this ^reat and 
\aluable industry b^)r a decade each years crop 
of potatoes has exceeded the last, anil while there 
has been considerable ductuation in prices, the sales 
ha\e been, almost without an exception, at a price 
that paid a liberal profit, abo\ e the cost of jiroduc- 
tion, ICach \ ear adds to the stren_i;th and popular- 
it\- ol" potat ) r.iisin.;- in t'.ie Aroostook \alley. and 
with tiie coming- of the Han<i;or and Aroostook rail- 
road. ali-ead\- completed to I loidlon. and with the 
])est assurance liiat it w ill reach this town early 
next summjr. t!ie f.irm jrs ( if one can judi;e from the 
amount of commerciaJ fertilizers beini;- shij-iped in- 
to th.e coiintN ) intend tv) largely increase the acre- 
age of this \aluable croji for iX().\. .Aside Irom 
lands near lar^e cities and manufacturini;- centres, 
none pa\ so Iarij,e a ]irofit as th(.se iVom which a 
well cultixated crop ol' {Potatoes is taken. \\ hile 
at the present time it is doubtful if the a\eraLie 



1 66 



]IISTORV OF FOlrr FAIRFIFIJ). 



Aroostook farmer raised more than two hundred 
bushels of potatoes per aere. tliei'e are instanees 
where, by thorough eultixation and the liberal use 
ol lertilizer, ha\e been produeed between- se\"en and 
eii^'ht hundred bushels, and it is the judi^-ement of 
some our most expei-iereed and praetieal farmers, 
that e\ery aere oi" land should \ield at least one 
hundred barrels of i^'ood. marketable potatoes: arid 
il is due to some of our enterpiasino' and proi^res- 
si\ e larmei's to sa\' that the\' ha\e not onl\- reaehed 
that amount, but on an a\ eraLi,e exeeed it. 

W^hile ,\roostook farmers have laro-ol\- been 
eontent with the eulti\ati()n ol" small farms, the\- 
ha\e beeome lariie potato raisers, Twent\- aeres 
of potatoes is a \ er\- eommon erop for a I'ort 
I'^airtleld farmer, and iort\- or hft\- aeres has be- 
eome too eommon to attraet attention. 

The i^rowth olthis industi-\- has been quite rapid 
but health\-, until the pi^esent \ ast proportions haxc 
been reaehed, leading- all others and making Aroos- 
t):)k (arming, in proportion to its ajre.i^'C, equal to 
any in the Ignited States. 

The western farmer has been eontented and 
happ\- with a \ield of twent\--fne bushels of 
wheat }H'r aei-e. and in tlie home market selling at 
one dollar per bushel, and \\ that state of things had 
eontinued there ne^ er would ha\e been an up- 
rising of farmers, and a politieal farmers" organi- 
zation. 



1IIST(3RV OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



167 



Thr 1-^)11 I'^iirlk'kl ("urnuT, \car after year sells 
iVo.iii his well eulti\ated potato lield seventy-lhe 
barrels of niereliantable ]">otatoes, at an a\erau,e of 
one dollar and llit\' eents per barrel, aniountiiii;" to 
one hundred and t\vel\e dollars and U\'t\ eents per 
aere. In the town of Vovi h^iirheld. in the \ear 
i(Sc)3, there were six stareh t'aetories in active oper- 
ation and estimated, ten tliou.sand tons -of stareh put 
on tiie market and nine million six hundred nint\- 
six thousand nine hundred sixt\--nine barrels (<!' 
potatoes shipped to the Boston market, estimated 
price v$i. 50 per barrel. The iutureol'this industry 
scjm> absoluteK' assure.!, and the sue ■>•>- oI"(:irni- 
i 14- in this nnrth.^iM latitude will k.?j;' he 

best pa\in<j,- industries of the eountr\'. l he in- 
troduction ol labor sa\inii' machiner\' has produced 
two marked results, b^irst, the land is more care- 
l'all\- prepared and m )re th')rou_n"hl\- cultixated, and 
secondh". the ]')()tato.es are raised and put upon the 
market at considerabh less cost. Potatoes are 
now dropped and co\ered and the lertili/er dis- 
tributed b\ a two horse planter that will do the 
work of ten men. .Mr. b'retl M. I laines of b'ort 
b'airtield has in\ented a \\ lieel hoi'se-hoe and fei'- 
tilizerthat will remoxe the weeds, stir the soil, and 
distribute the Certili/er better th:ni it can possibly 
be tlone b\ hand, and do the work ol'eiLiht or ten 
men, with one man ami a hoi>e. 'I he four-horse 
potato dii4i,''er i^els o\ er a \ er\" lar^e breadth of 



1 68 HISTORY OF FOIJT FAIRFIELD. 

land ill a da\', and leaves the p:)tatoes in o-ood con- 
dition to pick, and it i^; claimed to injarc less pati- 
toes, while it oathers tliem near]\- as clean as can 
be done hv hand work. 

.Vnotlier tliino; in I'ax'or. and that g-ocs a long 
\va\" in ni;d-;ino- popidar this iiulustrw is the fact 
that it <4i\es emplovnient extendi no- through mar.\' 
months of th.e \ear. The preparation of the groc.nd , 
the planting and ciilti\ation cl'th.e crops, is ibllowed 
onK' hv a short rest before the har\est con:mences, 
which includes putting the marketable potatoes in 
the cellar or the potato houses, aiid hauling the 
small and inferior ones to the starch ('actor\' ; then 
the time of fall plowing and initiator\- work for 
another crop, .and the work of hauling and market- 
ing the potatoes is taken up, to continue through 
the winter and earl\- spring, and often extending 
late into April, and sometimes into ?kfa\'; when 
the work of raising anotlier crop sh.ould be lulh' 
in hand. The clim:ite, adaptation of soil, and hab- 
its of the people ha\e all combined to favor the 
value of the crop and give it tlie lead in the mar- 
ket, and the ad^■antage alreadv secured in the 
hands of the intelligent, industrious and enterpris- 
ing tillers of the Aroostook soil, will imdoubtedlv 
hold the trade, and the e\er increasing market will 
in The future, as in the past, kec]^ up both the de- 
mand and the price. 

^\'ithin the last fev/ \ears farms have been sold 



iiisruKv OF roi.'i iaikih.m'. 169 



in !•'( it I'^airhckl I'or from ^^4x00 to v'fr^ooo, contain- 
\uy; IVcm two to tl^icc luir.crcd acres, witli s^ood 
i'arni lnii!(.!in.i;s, and with one hundred acres (,r 
ni')re of im]vroved l.md, and the jiotatoes taken 
iVcm the fain:s, in two years ha\e ]^aid tl:e er.tire 
am ).i:it of purjh.i^j nio.vjy. While it is n >t ne- 
cessai'N' so far as the ]")resent is concerned, tlie lact 
sh')ald n')t; bj o-.erlooked tliat the Tarmers ol" I'\)rt 
l-\iirtield are not e\clusi\ely enii-au,ed in raising- po- 
t;\tt)C.s. The\- d;) nut lose si'^'ht ol" the well es- 
tablished theorxol" rotation in crops. I lay has been, 
and will continue t.) be. an important and prolitable 
crcp, ;;rd a i:,(.cd price will be paid I'or oats, as Iohl^- 
a-; lunib.'i-in^- opjrati.jns are carried on ; and as there 
is more oi" less hind that is remarkably well adapt- 
ctl l(.r LiM/inL'". th.e raising of neat .stock anil horses 
decs, and iindor.btedlx will continue to re. i'^ •■ ■• '■>- 
siderable attention. 

In cop-cludin^- this chapter, we call attention to 
tl e er,_L,ra\ ini;- rcprc; c r.tir.:n- a potato haixesL sjcne. 
While i'or tlie Aroostook lin-mer ol' iNt;4 it may 
;ittr;ict but little attention, to Cutiire nenerations it 
w ill at least _ii,i\ e an idea ol' the jirooress made and 
er.tei i^rise I'isplav ed In the ci:iti\ at<;rs ol th.e jircs- 
e:n da}-. 

The indusLi; >'..c.i'ic- oo important a relai.. .. L - 
th.e de\ elGpnicnt of Aroostook coi:i;ty, that we have 
had taken two street \ lews, rcprc^entin^U- th.e p(.tato 
l,'i;.i. .rowdin tato horses, and the? 



170 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRr!i:Ll>. 

streets hill of sleJs fr.)m which the Irjrses h;i\"e 
been taken at tlie dinner hour. 

The records of two cla\"s in March, 1894, show 
the sale ol" three th.oiisaiicl ii\e luip.dred and for.r 
thousand barrels respective! w sold and deli\ered 
in the Fort 1-^iirtield pot;it() ni;irket. $6,000 paid 
to tlie farmers in one da\" alone, for one article of 
produiCe iVom tliese i'arnis. is one of the results of 
tins industrw 



I . n s ■ i 



■ 


- P; 












11 




Ills r()K\ oi- lORi' lAiK 1 ii:li). 



LllAPTER WW 
I 'A ST, i'i<i;si:\'|- AM) I'l iL ki:. 

In turninn" back Cor a .sur\ cx' ol the chan^'in^" 
c\ cuts that make up the historx' of oui" town and 
\ ilhiiie, we sliall llntl a field ol' interesting" and stir- 
ring scenes ()]")eninn' up bel'ore us. ArhitrariK . and 
to suit our own purpose-, we lix the j^ast of liall" a 
centurx' Ironi i N.p) to i N()(). So nuicli as comes witli- 
in the present decade, or ma\- transj-)ire bel'ore its 
close, w t' will ii-co^ni/A' as the jti\'S(,-nt. and p-ass 
o\ er to iju' spi'culalixe future, all that shall come 
al'ter. 

Until iN.p) \ er\ little was known of am ol" the 
vast territoiN hiiiL;" ik I'th of lloulton. and now 
in .Vroostook couiU\. The actixe lixinu' j'tast ol' 
l'\)rt I'^iirlic-ld, the settlement, growth and prosper- 
peritx' of the northerii I'rontier town ol the north- 
i-aslern ^lateolthe American I'nion. commenceil 
in the \ ear A. I ).. i N jo. 

\\'hile it is tn:e that in i .bciO. a ^rant oi' a part 
ol' the tci'i'ilury embraced in this town wa^ located, 
surx eyed, and conve\ed to an ineorporaliun by the 



174 HISTORY OF FOUT FAIRFIELD. 



c()nim()m\'c;iltli of Massacluisctts. it was not until 
tlic settlement of* the northeastern bountlai'\\ and 
the ratihcation of the AW'bster-^\shburton treaty, 
that the\- came int(jaetaal possession, and when that 
settlement was made, more than one twel\ eth of the 
original PKmoutli (jrant was upon the wrouii," sitle 
of the national boundar\ to be of am' practical use 
or benefit. 

Before that time \ali:able pine timber had been 
cut and hauled to the Aroostook ri\ er. which makes 
a Li'rand sweep of nearl\' twehe miles throui;"h its 
territor\', b\' the inhabitants of the adjoining' pro- 
^ ince ol" New Brunswick, who had settled along- 
its banks lor the purpose of lumbering, and depend- 
ed uj^on that business for a li\ing. Thex; had made 
onl\- small improxements upon the land thex" occu- 
]")ied, some few hv grant Irom tlie go\ ernment, aiul 
others onh accpiiring a squatter's right. This in the 
strictest sense was an English settlement, owing 
allegiancj to the l^rltisli crown, without a thought 
that the\- were trespassers upon foreign territory 
Subsequent! \', about iS_:;3 or i^'.^b, an .Vmerican 
settlement had been m ide farther up the Aroostook 
ri\ er, and Gener.d A\\'Mingto:"i had purchased what 
is now tlie town of M )nLicello, and Dennis Fair- 
banks had puslieJ th.r )ugh s'ill farther nortli ;:i:d 
settled upon the Pre.-iq k- Isle stre:im, about a mile 
Irom its ccjnfluence wit'i tlie .Vroostook ri\er. 

'Idle boundar\- line b.e''.veen M.i'ne ai'.d Xcav 



iihsrc^RV OF loin iaiki-ii:ld. 



/ .■^ 



T^runswick. whicli liail been cst:iblis]iL'd by treaty, 
to the lieaclwaters of the St. Croix y'wcv. where a 
nionunient was set, IVom that point north hatl be- 
eome a cjuestion ol cbspute. 

'i'hj laet th:it an Iviu-bsh settlement had been 
made, and the timber beinu" eut off and run down 
the Aroostook and .St, John ri\ei-, to tlie |-a\nlish 
timber market, inereased the dillTeulty, until in the 
wintei- of 1^1,^0 the land au-ent of the State of Maine, 
w ith a eonsiderable militia Force, proceeded to the 
disputed territor\- for the purpose of drivino- off the 
trespassers, eontiscatino- their teams and takino-pf)s- 
session ol" this lumbei-. l-^)r this pui'pose a fort 
was erected r.jion what will alwa\s be known as 
••l"\)rt" hill; a blockhouse where Mr. Arthur W 
Libb\ s house now stantls. and a boom across the 
ri\ er to hold the trespass timber. A road was also 
cut from the ^^)rt, which had been named for the 
lion. )ohn b^iirheld, who was then Li'o\ernor ol the 
State of .Maine. 'fhe men who had been drafted, 
and compelletl to make the Ioul:,' and tedious joui"- 
ne\' into the \ asi wildeine.ss. loianed a \'er\- la\ oi'a- 
ble opinion ol" the countr\ . 'fluw brought back to 
their homes a ^ood report ol" the new countrw and 
aided hv the liberal offer ol almost the i^ift ol" a 
home in the northern wilderness, within a \er\ 
short time the number of American scttlei's was 
numerous enounh to introduce aiul sustain schools 
and chui'ches. and m d<e iheir inlhience felt both 



176 



m&ITORY OF FORT FAIRFIl^LD. 



socially and politicalh'. As carl\- as 1844 political 
parties were ori^'anized, and the discussion of polit- 
ical (juestions was freeh- entered upon. Little b\' 
little the foreign element, made citizens b\- the 
Wcbster-Ashburton treat\\ became Americanized. 

Onv common schools, aided b\- intermarriai^w in 
a few short \ears almost entircK' blotted out sec- 
tional lines and made one people ofthe two an- 
ta^'onizinij,- classes that made u]") the societ\' ol 
I (S40. 

The hea\\' i^-rowth of timber to remove, the 
earh' irosts and loni^ winters, too-ether with the 
*;'rcat distance Irom market, were obstacles hard to 
overcome, and placed the earl\- settlers at a i^reat 
disadx antagx'. 

At the end oC the first decade some had become 
discouraged and returned to their former homes, 
and others woidd ha\e done so if the\" had not been 
without the means, and possibl\- had no lormer 
home to go to. K^■er^• acre cleared let in addition- 
al sunligiu, e\er\- da^•"s work on the road made the 
relati\e distance iVom the outside world less, e\er\- 
day's work on the farm or buildings, added to com- 
lort and the prospect of lixing. At the end ol' the 
second decade the j^eoplc ol ^Xroostook began to 
add to the necessaries, some ofthe comforts of life. 
Abundant returns were receixed b\' the husband- 
man, man\- farms had been opened up. and as a 
\\hole. the people of North Aroostook were in a 



iiis'r..u\ <)i' I'iti^'i' i'Aii^i-ii:i.i). 



1/7 



pi-osporous ciJiulilion. Not un\\ liad llic people 
been trained to hardsliips and jirix ations. but to de- 
\()tion to theii- eoiintr\- and their homes. The 
times, eireiimstanees and eonditions all eneouraLi'ed 
th.e growth of patriotism, and when the toesin oT 
war was sounded, when the old tlau;, the "star span- 
gled banner." was assailed, home and iafm and 
lo\ed ones were abandoned, and the work of 
delendin^- the tlau' and j")reser\inii- the Union be- 
eame the one thought and the one woi'k ol these 
men who felt ealledtoa ^Teater work than elearin<4- 
hind and makini;- liomes. From no j^art of the 
eountrx' did so lar^e a />/'(> I'ulii of the j')opulation 
entei" the ai'm\' as from the northei'n portion ol" 
Aroostook eount\-. \\ hile no part ol' the entire land 
was so ill\- prepared to spare them. It is indeed 
doubtful if an\ part of the entire North felt the ef- 
i'eet ol the wai" so "sex eiel\' as Aroostook eountw 
b'rom no portion of our eounti"\" were stroULi'er 
and more sell reliant men sent Ibrth to battle, and 
Irom no ]")art was the f^n^ raid ol' loss ni'eatei". 
'I'hese men went forth to do and to die. if wk^^^^ be. 
that the eounlr\ nnuht li\e. I^elore there was a 
lull reeo\ er\' from the shoek of wai". anotlu'r ile- 
eade hail nearlx passed awa\. Sinee iSyo. there 
has been a steaiK ami lajiid i^iow ih. The eominn' 
ol th<.' lailroad made the expoit ol a^rieultural 
prodiiL'tion-; not o;il\- po.-;>,ible but |^ro!ilable. The 
manufaeturinLi" of shoil lumbei" beeame piolitable. 



178 HISTORY OF Foirr fairfield. 



and potato raising- took the \ cr\- first rank in agri- 
cultural work. 

(^lictlw and without an\- great pretensions, there 
has been a steadx' ad\anee "all along the line:"' 
more acres were brought under cultivation, larger 
and better buildings wei'c erected with pleasanter 
sui-roundings, until well fu.rnished. beautirulK' lo- 
cated and delightful homes, lorm a grand jianor.ima 
upon e\er\" hillside, and I'.long e\ er\- \alle\-. and 
make it in all that the words implw — the "(Tarden 
ol Maine." The extensi\e iarming indu.strx' has 
made centres of trade a necessity \"illages ha\e 
been built up. as th.e r;itvral result ( f th.e lai'ge 
breadth of rich, fertile land, and its adaptation to 
the raising in ;d:)undance. crops for which good 
prices and a read\" market is e\ er at hand. Idie 
necessai'N" accompaniment, intelligent, enterprising, 
iiulustrious farmers. ha\e not been found wanting, 
and to-da\' one ma\- tra\ el the world o\er without 
hnding such returns I'or the mone\' in\ ested, as can 
be secured from an A.roostook farm. Land that 
to-da\' is in a state of culti\ation. from which one 
hundred barrels of potatoes can be har\ested, sell- 
ing at fort\- dollars an acre, makes it doubK" sure 
that the profit of a single crop, ^vill considerabh' 
more than j^a\' for the land upon which it was 
raised. 



IIKSIORY t)l- FOK'l" lAlRllELl). 



179 



ellAl'TKR \X\1. 
i-\)i<r KAiu iMi:ij) IX riiK war. 
TIk' political campaiun whicli ciiliiiiiiatcd in the 
election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidenc\", 
found Fort r^iirheld in the best possible conditicMi 
to wield an inllnence in l'a\ or of his administration. 
I'l-om 1S40 L'apt. Stephen I). I-'attee and Almon S. 
Richartls had been stead\- antl per>istent political 
workers. thoroiii;-hl\- de\ oted to Wiii^" principles, 
and u]'»on the breaking- up of the W'hi^- jiartw t!ie\' 
became acti\e and etlijieit Rei")ublicans. 'I'iien 
came lion. Isaac Hacker, lion. Jesse Diew . lion. 
W'asiiin^'ton Lon^' and William Small, I^s(]..all ac- 
ti\ e and ellicient workers lor Tree speech. iVee in- 
stitution^. and a ^'Lioxernment of the people, hv the 
l^eople and for the )")eople."' And not onh' did the\- 
t.dk and xote for Presitlent Lincoln, but the\' 
worked to sastain him in the ^reat national stiaii;"- 
l:1c to maintain the !4()\ ernnuaU, in harmonx with 
tile platform upon w hich he hail been electetl. and 
to perpetuate the I'nion. Their lield ol o'peration 
was fa\ oi-able 1 jr effcjlix e work. I'rom their own 



IcSo 



IIISTCM^Y OF FOirr I'AIl^ FIELD. 



town and the adjoinini^; parishes in New Bruns- 
wick, men were e:isil\- se.:uretl loi" the Nolnnteer 
ioree, tliat l;m\ e onr e()unt\- the p:)st oC honor in 
sendini^- the most men to the war. in proportion to 
the popahition, of an\- ejnnt\- in the l^nion. Their 
inrtuenee went out and was felt in tlie ailjoinin'^ 
towns and in our sister pro\ inee. l^^ort Fairfield 
was pre-eminent! \" ]o\al,not onlx' to the Unio'u cause, 
but t(; the principles iuN'oKed. 

From tirst to last, whether flushed b\' \ ictor\- or 
depressed hv disaster, her sons were read\' to bra\ e 
the dan^'crs of the battle-held, and if need be, L;"i\e 
their li\es, that the nation mii^^ht li\e. Her roll ol' 
honor stands u]')on the national recoixl. The names 
of her honored sons were found in nearK' all the 
State organizations. 

Her heroic dead, and her wounded and disabled 
\ eterans. represent almost e\er\- I'amiU- of that 
daw From tlie adjutant L!,-eneral s reports, and 
other sources, we are ;ible to ii,"iNe the lollowini;" 
imperfect ix'cord of soldiers who went to tlie war 
from tliis town, but as in man\' instances, the\' 
went to make up the cjuota of other towns, we 
find it impo.-;sible at t'uis late da\' t > j^i\c all; and 
as man\- ol' the soldiers and their friends lune 
failed to respond to the recpaest made of them 
through the yorUicrn Leader^ the local P^ipi^'i' of 
tho town, no doubt samj :U Icisf will fc-.l an in- 
justice has been d'o^'A^, 



TIISTOKV OK 1X)RT TAI K II i:i-I>. 



■<^^ 



c'cnnnssioNi:!) oi-m-mcki^s. 
iM-ankliii M. Drew, captain and major in llu- 
15th Maine Rc-inKMit: C. II. ICllis, chaplain in the 
iilh. and captain in tlic ;^isi Maine Rc-inicnt: 
Oscar A. Kllis. id and 1st lieutenant, and captain 
in the ist Maine L'avalrx : Klbrid-e J. Pattee, 2d 
and lirst lieutenant, and captain in the 15th Mauie 
Reu-iment: Albert W. lloyt.idand 1st lieutenant 
in the 15th Maine Re-inient; Whitman l^.Orcutt. 
_'d and ist lieutenant in the 15 Maine Re-iment. 
Chandler Libln, 2d lieutenant in ihc loth Maine 

Reuiment. 

\()N-e()\i MISSION i: I) ()i"i-ui:i;s. 

Daniel W. Haines, ser-eant. Cn. K. ist Maine 
Ca\alr\; Alexander McDou^ald. scr-eanl, L'o. l'", 
ist Maine C"a\al\-: Albert (iardiner, corporal. Co. 
1-:. 1st Maine Ca\alr\; Shepherd R. lloyt, ser- 
o-eant, Co. I^, !3tli Maine Rc-iment: Charles R. 
lio\t. serueant, Co. 1^, 15th Maine Re-iment : John 
W. Whitten, serL;eant. L'o. 1'^ 15th Re^-iment; 
Allred :\larshall, corporal. L'o. I*:, 15th Regi- 
ment: lames Doian, corporal, Co. I- 15th Me. 
Regiment; Sanborn Murphy, corporal. 15th 
Regiment: James l'\ Luce, ser-eant. Co. I'"., .'^ist 
Rciiiment: .Mberl Sibly. corporal, Co. I'>, .:;ist 
Maine Re-iment : Charles \'. I':ilis. coriv)ral, C". 
\]. :; 1st Reuinienl. 

I'H i\ A 1 1;>. 
i>l Main,- C;i\alr\ : Hiram I I. l"lb- Mlnrl R. 



184 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



Ilaincs, John Decker, Edward Decker, As:i 
E. Da^ is, R. E. Orcutt, John Currier and John 
(j:dlag-her, 

2d Maine Ca\'alr\': Abraham R. Power;;, Joseph 
L. Whitmore. 

rst District Coliinibi:i Cavah-y: Richard Norris, 
sergeant. 

5th iNIaine Battery: Alden C Varne\-. 

ist ^faine Veteran Infantry: William KniLdit. 
James johnstoii. 

,^d Maine Regiment: Rich.ard Harmon, Abel 
Ilnmphrey, John B. Willette. 

4th Maine Regiment: John A. Day. 

7th Maine Regiment: l^riah Palmer. 

loLli rslaine Regiment: Warren Ilarmo:!, Edward 
Ross, Simon Giberson, NelsonAIeXeil. 

irth ?^Iaine Regiment: (iieorge W. Eastman, 
S;imi:el G. K.ichardson, Amos Eitzlierbert, Geor.<i-e 
(niiggeN', A:iron Goiner\-, jMoses Grass. 

15th Maine Regiment: Almon WaiCe, George 
I']. Drew, Joseph E. Drew, Lewis ^Myshrall, V;'ar- 
ren Fiheld, Charles A. Grass, Fabian Crock, Geo. 
M:irtin, John Lundy, Steplien S. IMeDoiigald, Jas. 
Crock, John W. Pickles, Ransom N. Pierce, 
b\'rnando Bolster, Joseph B(;lier, Am(.s Pcdier, 
]^hillin P>olier, ThoiTLas Crock, Ozias Di-.nton, Tho:;. 
Dunn.ell, Jeremi:ih Farwell, Daniel Finn, Chas. A. 
Cjrass, Enoch B. Orass, George A. Groves, Vv'^m. 
Linidw (Tcorge N. Boltridq,e, ^S::lnlr.eI Fitzhcrbcit, 



l|,s;-|-,>.. V ,>!• i--f)|;T |- AIK' l"l!;i.l). 



I'^; 



(icoi-oc E. Park. Joseph E. Dow, Patrick l-\()"I!a- 
r;i. I'.cnjaniin W. l^cttiniiill, lulward Murphy. 

\()[h Maine Rc_^inK'nt: I^rastus RoLiVrs. Jolm 
P. Rogers, Nicholas Dec, Tiionias P\-ons, A\ arreii 
A. jo'iiiSLon, Daniel Hopkins, Daniel Webb, 
RoJeriek Powers, Wesley Chase, John S. Cor- 
less, janies Rediker, Xieholas McKinney, Jaines 
Mekinne\-, IIenr\- llopkinson, Kdward Ro^ss, Xa- 
thanael Liifkin, Alfred Bishop, 1^'rederiek Bishop, 
Simeon H. I'^ilsoni, Xoah Goodrich. William Ha- 
lc\. Michael Polier, IIenr\- Cirass. Daniel l^^iss. 

17th Maine ReLiinient: John P. b'rink, I'^red 
Haines, Michael Russell, Thom.-is Russell. Patrick 
Russell, P^artlett, Redike: . 

20th Maine Re<4'iment: Richard Powers, Ciran- 
\ille Ho'p-kinson, Charles E. Hoit, Henry Powers, 
I'hilo HewctL ]nhn Rilew 

jjd Mai: nient: Jc^sepli A. (.'onant, J(/shua 

Hoyt. Oiriii Hoyt, LaForcst \\ 'i\)wle. ( 'harks H. 
Townsep.d, Amos P\le. 

_^oth ?.Iaine Regiment: William Russell. 

3 1st Maiiie Reii'iment: Asa S. Townsend. (jeorue 
W. Curtis, Joseph P. IVle. Wm. V. Dolley, Loria 
V. Johnston, William J. Saw\er, Daniel Whitmore. 
lames l'\ Springer, Asa C, Went worth, Adtlison 
\\'riuhl. 

While tlie record olthe Maine reuiments stands 
in the front rank (-f the mighty I'orce raised to 
maintain the national r.nilw the ist Maine caxalrw 



l86 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



lor lonii' sor\ ice. hard marches aiul eCCcctix c work 
upon tlic hattlc-hclcl. had no ccjiiaL h^)rt h'airhcld's 
cjuota to this i-c^'imcnt was made up o1 Nounii,' men 
who stood amoni^- the best; all of whom did noble 
ser\ice I'oi' their eountrx'. and ha\"e left a record 
for liiture ^'enerations that should be written in let- 
ters of liolit. 

Her soris were amonii" the best in the- se\"eral 
rc^'iments to which tluw were assi^'ned: ph\'sicall\', 
perfect men, who went forth to do or to die. ne\ ei" 
faltering- upon the march, and in the camp or on 
the battle-tield dischar^-inLi' their dut\- in a manner 
that won the commendations ol'the ^'cnei^als of the 
armw 

Not a call for men was made b\- the go\ernment 
that was not heartil\- responded to hv the \o\:\.\ men 
of our town, often i;"oin_ii; to make up tlu^ quota, 
and til'dng tn.' phue^ left \ajant hv other older 
and m^re p^P- loas towns; and b\- so doin^" not onK- 
did the wear\- marching' and hard ti^'htinii,- for otiiers, 
but lost tlie i:ljitir\- of tlieir arm\- life with their 
own town. 



iiisroKN oi" i-oKT I'MK I'i i:i.i). 



IS; 



• CIIAPTKR XW'Il. 

KIFTKl'-N'ril MAIM-: K i:(;i M I-.X|-. 

It was not until the orn-aiii/.atioii (>\ the 15th 
Rciiimcnt. that ^^)rt FairHcld Liot down to earnest 
work. In I'aet. up to this time the war had been 
looked upon as of slKsrt duration, and the opinion 
had pi"e\ ailed that the demand lor troops was oi' 
so small aeeount that it was not worth the while 
to make an\" earnest effort. lUit the i'aet beeame 
more and more apjiarent that a serious and des- 
jH-rate struii'ule was bel'ore U;S. Col. John Me- 
("luskey. a popular lumberman, was authori/etl to 
organize a reniment. It was both riiiht and ]">i"opei" 
that the aeti\ e l^epubliean leaders, whose a^e and 
inhrmitii's unlitteil them to u'o to the i'ront. should, 
so lar as tlu-\ hail sons, uix e them as a i'ree-will 
oi'i'eriuLi" to their eountr\"s eause. And son^ with 
sueh sires, were onl\- too read\" to tlo w ith mi^ht 
and main, to j-iresei'v c- the national life. Uaekeil 
by family inthienee, j-'ranklin Drew, l-'Jliridi^e ( i. 
I'attee and Albeit IIo\t. were aetixe eo-workeis 



1 88 HISTORY OF FOr/r FAIRFlELi). 



to aid in the work, and rcadilv secured (Voni among 
their Nounii,- iViends and acquaintances, a hir^-c and 
respectable following. 

The stern realities ol' the war had liccii lorced 
home upon them, and the men who ga\e their 
names for tiie organization of this regiment, did it 
A\ith the fnll reali/ati(jn of what was before them, 
so far as the march a.nd ba.ttle-rield were- con- 
cerned. I^ut their tirst experience upon the trans- 
ports, and a \ oxage to the CjuIF of ?*»[exico, and the 
gre:it change to the extreme heat ;md exposure oF 
a climate which was absoluteh' foreign to tlvcm. 
was a hardship that told more se\erel\' upon them, 
than upon almost an\' other regiment that exer en- 
tered the ser\ice. Not onl\- did Fort Fairheld 
send almost the last a\ailable man ir.to this regi- 
ment, but it was a popular rendezvous for recruit- 
ing. Eaton (jrant. Caribou, Sarslield, Limestone, 
\'an Buren and our sister Province, if not in\"aded 
when their sons came to our town, the\' found pulv 
lic sentimeiit so strong, ;ind influences almost 
irresistible surrounding them, that manv were ir.- 
duced to \-ield to the stronger force and enlist for 
the war. AVhile before and after, upper Aroostook 
rurnished honored names to other organizati(^ns, in 
fact to almost all that entei'ed tlie t'leld from our 
st:ite, the 15th was emphaticalK" our regiment, and 
no histor\- of our town can be complete without 
bemo- iiiterwo\en with its honored record. 



HISTORY OF FOTIT FAIRFIELH. 



189 



The organization of the ist Maine Cavalry, the 
nth. i2.th 13th and 14th regiments, had followed 
each other in saeh rapid succession as to be almost 
simr.ltar.em-.s. :^^aine's war governor, Israel Wash- 
burn, jr., seconded by the able and efficient adju- 
t.int general John l'. llodsdon, was putting lorth 
every effort to respond to the country's call. 
With each regiment that entered the field, the w.ir 
elor.d seemed to lower. News from the seat of 
war were of a depressing character. P>iill Run and 
I^all's liluff, the death oi' the patriotic Lyons, the 
Mason-Slidell complication, the disastrous drawn 
battles and skirmishes in Missouri, had thrown a 
dark cloud over the entire North. Amidst all this 
diirkness and discouragement to the l-nion c;iuse, 
the auth.orifv from the governor was received m 
October to organize the 15th regiment, and the 
lirst week in November saw. large detachments of 
troops gathered at Augusta. December 6th, 7th 
and 9th, companies A, B and C vvere mustered in- 
to the United States service, and before the month 
ended, men were mustereil into every company, and 
b\- January U^ih iS'jj, the regimental organization 
• ]. Tlicse tW(miont!is, howex er, were 
Under the management of such ol- 
cntitled to muster before a full regi- 
ment had be. • drill and discipline had 
been earefuliv atiended lo, and thus tiie f(nmdation 
l;iid for future work, r^l'-l-- r,-..;nirp,i. companies 



190 IIISTORV OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



C E and Ct, and a part ol" F, were Trom .Vruostook 
count^•. 

The iirst officers of these companies were as fol- 
lows: Co. L\ Charles W. Cla\"ton of ?vlasardis. cap- 
tain; Daniel Prescott of Presqr.e Isle, ist lieuten- 
ant; Zebulan Rowe of Prescir.e Isle, 2d lieutenant. 

Co. K, Charles !>. Smith or Iloulton, captain; 
John Z, Swanton of Iloulton, ist lieutenant; A\- 
bert IIoNt oi" T'ort f^iirfield, 2d lieutenant. 

Comp. r.n- V : )am.'s \\\ I Pickett of I loulton. ist 
lieutenant.; companx' (j, Pranklin Drew of I'^)rt 
P^iirfield. captain; Ransom X. Pierce of f^jrt f^air- 
lield, 1st lieutenant; Klbrid^-e (J. Pattee of Fcu't 
b^airfield. 21! lieutenant. SubsecpientlN- Wan-en 
Pluuimc)- of !^resc]ue Isle, and Whitman L. Orcutt 
ol' Vori j^^airhe'ld, were proiuote'd to 2<A and ist 
lieutenants iii companx' L\ ainl Cxiais K. Kni^hl of 
Presque Isle, ist lieutenant, and captain in com- 
pany V. 

On r\'bruar\- 2()th, i(S62, the reii'iment broke 
camp at Au^aista and took the train for Portland, 
where tliey expected to immediateK' take transport 
to New Orleans. There was, howe\ er, a dela\' of 
a week, with \ er\- uneomfortable cpaarters belore 
the\' were on sliipboard, and then twent\-ei^^"ht 
daws on the oje in, followed b\' six xxeeks on Ship 
island, at the mout'n oi' the Mississippi, ddien a 
trip up the rl\er to New Orleans, that should ha\'e 
been made in twentx'-lour hours, that occupied 




E. E. SC A'l'E S RESinENt'E. 



Ills l()l':^ oi" I'OK r fair !■ ii:m). 



' ')r^ 



twelve full (lavs. The summer of 1S62 was spent 
ill eamp near New Orleans, and the elinialie ehan^e 
and the soutliern malaria were as haicl to I'aee. and 
almost as destruetixe. as the battle. lvirl\- in Sep- 
tember a ehan^e eame: another shipboard and sea 
\()\"aue to Pensaeola, on the western eoast ol' I'^Ioi'i- 
da. Here the reij,'iment i'ound a healtlu' loeation, 
and sjient a \er\- eoml'ortidile winter, i-emiinin^- 
until June. iSf')_^, when the order eanu to return 
to New Orleans. 

From |une to X(»^ ember the re,L;"iment was in 
aeti\e ser\ iee. While il was not ealled u]):)n to ilo 
an\" L:,'reat amount of liu'htinn', loni^" marehes, se\ ere 
•iuard dut\-, broken up into detateliments to pro- 
tect the main arm\- i'rom a sudden and unexpected 
a!:t:i:k, up )n I )w ail m irs!n- i;r()und. with thj 
insidious cnem\'. malaria! le\ cr, upon e\er\- hand, 
their ranks were thinned hv sickness and death. 
Xoxember found them upon transports on their 
wa\' to Texas : a landini;' was soon elTected upon 
Hrazos Island, near the mouth of the Rio (jrande, 
the extreme southwestern point in Texas. Xox- 
ember 15th, the\- were on the march alonii' the 
coast to MustaiiLi' island, b'orl Semmes w.is caji- 
turcd, and a week later the\' were on Matagorda 
island. l-'dit FsjU'ian/a is captured. lroo|")s aie 
.-stationed upon the m linlaml. anil ihe be>l ha'bor 
on the Texan coast is in our i-)osscssioii. 1' ebrua- 
ry _'oth, iS0|,1()und tlnjiii on a transport startinu' on 



194 



ins'i-()RV OF f()i;t i-'airfield. 



their rctuni trip to New Orle.ins; then up the riv- 
er, and were ajtlxe p.irtieip.ints in thj Reil river 
eampaign. 

Lonii,' m n\'hcs and hard tiii;hts, in ^^'hieh tlie rej;- 
inient f'aithrull\- disjliar^-ed its dut\, is applicable 
to the Red ri\ er eanipai^M. In the disastrous Sa- 
bine Cross Road lii^-ht, the Bull Run ol' the expedi- 
tion, the i5Lh was in Enur's's DJ\ision, and nobly 
performed their part in sa\ino- the retreating arnij- 
from being- totally destroyed, and m:ide Pleasant 
Gro\c the turning pjint in the ground lost at Sa- 
bine Cross Road. 

In the hotly contested battle at Pleasant Hill the 
regiment was in the thickest of the tight; in fact, 
at the most critical moment, under the masterly 
management of Colonel D\-er and Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Murra\', their un\!elding and persistent work 
ti rncd the tide of battle in our fa\or. 

Il' there was a prominent officer in that expedi- 
tion wh:) returned with additional honors won, that 
otlL-er was B.-igidier-Generul William II. Eaurv, 
the c'jnin.inder of Emjr\-*s DI\ision of the 19th 
Army Corps. In the second brigade of this divi- 
sion, the 15th Maine performed its whole dutv; 
whether upon the march, building the dam t:) raise 
the Red ri\er that the g mb )ats might h: saved, or 
befoi'e the enem^■, the\' did t'neir whole dutv; and 
what that whole dutv was, is best t A " in the fol- 
h)\\ing general order issued "t" ihe e'osi' of the 



iiibTouN oi i-()i;r i".\iki-ii:li). 



!<)■ 



camo:iioM and jusL bjlorc lc.i\ in,^ l^r i1k' Army oi 

tlic Potoniar. 

"Gi:xERAi. ():^!)i:i; No. 4S. 

1 1 i:.\i)(.^ Airi i:rs i()lli Aioiv Cokis. 
Si:MMi>i'oin\ La.. 
Ma\ iNlh. iSn|. 
'•S()/<//('/-s of I lie I si ami 2 J />/: is/oiis Kjl/i . \ r- 
III X Cores' — 1 1 is WW duty to express to you my 
appiwiation oC xour uiiilorm i^ootl conduct throi;u"li- 
out the late eNentful campaiiiu. 'Idiis duty is rer.- 
dei-ed tlie moie imperative by the false reports oi 
Noiir operations which ha\ e met yo:i at this point. 
"O.I the 7th ol" April, at th/ lirst notice tliat our 
troops in IV )nt were en^'aned. tlie h^irst Dixision. 
the onl\ troops (d" the i()th Corps then present, 
marched in double cpuick time se\ en miles to the 
iront, foi^med a line of battle under lire ol the en- 
enn. checked him, and drox e him back, under cir- 
cumstances the most trxini;- that could befall troops. 
The whole adxance. composed oi' eiuht or teii 
thousand troops, were thrown back upon you in 
utter ilisorder and coni'usion, pell-mell, with the 
enenn. ^'ou tormed lir.e ol' battle under his tire, 
and amidst tliis i'ri^htrul disorder, with the reuu- 
larit\- ol' Ibrmini^- for parade, you drove the enemy 
from bei'ore \-ou. and held tlie ground until ordered 
to fall back. 

••'I'he next da\. at IMcasant Hill, you ol" the l-"iist 
Dixision bore t!ie biuiit ol" the i-nem/s furious at- 



IC)6 HISTORY OF FOr.T FAIRFIELD. 

t.ick; and only one brigade — that on the left — gave 
wa\", because its left was unsupported; but this 
soon rallied and joined iii the hnal charge which 
droNC the enem\- from the held. 

"On the 23d. at Cane Ri\er, ^•()u, supported b\- 
the 13th Ariviv Corps, found the enenn- strongh' 
posted to dispute the crossing of the ri\'er. Led 
b\- the Third I'rigade oC the ist Dixision, vou tin-ned 
his llank and droN e him at the point of the ba\"onet 
IVom tlie hill lie occuiiied. 

"At Alexandria. \(>u contributed N'our labor, hv 
da\' and night, for se\enteen da\s, under the en- 
gineering skill of Li^'utenant-Colonel Baile\', to 
the great work which reliexed the fleet from its 
])cri]ous position abo\e the Calls, and restored it to 
the C')untr\". 

''At MaPiSura, on the ist of Ma\', \'()U met the 
encnu' on an open plain, and supported (ai xour 
right hv tb.e Sixteenth Arni\- Corps, droxe him 
from the field. 

"'fhis in bi-iel, is a samm;ir\- of \"our serxices for 
the last two months, and 1 know when it becomes 
known to the countr\-. the judgement \\ ill be that 
\()u, at least. ha\ e done \nuv dut\- I'aithl'ulK". 

(Signed.) '>V\i. II. lAii:i;v, 

l)rig.-(Teneral (Jom man ding. 

Othcial. 

Dlncan S. \\\mj<i:r, 

Asst.-Adjt. Cjeneral." 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 1 97 



()nl\- a bricF rest in camp at Moro-anzia Bend 
upon the banks of the Mississippi, and tlicy were 
luirricd upon transj")orts, with scaled orders that 
were not to be opened until after the pilots had 
been dismissed at the mouth of the ^Tississippi, and 
when opened, jm-o\ ed their destination to be to 
L'hespeake Vr.xw the Potomac and the James. Here 
tlu- regiment was di\ ided. One battalion under 
the commar.d of (^'ol. l)\er upon one boat, and the 
other under comniand of Lieutenant-L'ol. Murray, 
accomjianied In Major 1^^-ank >r. I^rew, upon an- 
other. 

Xo sooner arrived than the\" were hurried lor- 
ward to strengthen the arnn in W'e.^l X'iruinia. 
Then lhe\- had se\ere campaiiiiiini;" uj"* and down 
the \ alle\- of the Slu-nandoah, after the omnipresent 
iOail\-. who ne\ er failed to run awaw but did i-.ot 
lail to tliiht another da\-, until his \ ictoi-y was 
turned into defeat hv Sheiadan's ti-iiimi->hant ride 
fi-om Winchester. After the lidl of Richmond, 
the i^th was ordeied to Washiniiton. and here we 
miLiht expect that the work would close, but not 
so. After six weeks at the national capital they 
were tieated to another sea \n\aue. not how e\ er. 
to the (iulf. but to Sa\annah. (Jeor^ia. aiul from 
there to ( Jeor^etow 11. w lu'rc the\ were retpiiicd to 
perform a full \i'ar of dut\ uniler the conuuander 
ofthe nu'litai-\ ili^tiict of South ^'aiolina. This, one 
of the most tlelicate antl ditlicult tlulies that had 



jgS HISTORY OF FOllT FAIRFIELD. 

fallen to their lot, was suceessfullv perlbrmed. 

While for plnsieal indiirance, it is doubtl'ul if 
any regiment lea^ino• the State was its superior; 
the positions it oeeiipied and the work it performed 
taxed its strength bevond an\- other, and althou<4-h 
its number of kille.l and w.:) mdjil w.is compara- 
tiveh' small, its loss b\' disease and death was 
realh' appallino-. The .\d jiitant-Generars re'p )rt 
shows the following- reeord of deaths in the ser- 
vice: Co. A, t\vent\'-eight; Co. ]>, twentx-the : 
Co, C, thirt\-()ne; Co. I), thirt\'-nine ; Co. E, 
ibrtv-eight; Co. F, thirt\--two; Co. (i, thirt\--four ; 
Co. II, thirt\--six; Co. I, twentv-ei^ht ; Co. K, 
thirtN-eii^ht. A total of three hundred andthirt\-- 
nine deaths, and two hundred and nmet\-ti\e were 
discharged for disabilit\-. 

Ifwe follow the regiment from the spring of 
1S62, in its \()\ages hv sea, its marches by land up- 
on the drear\- plains of Texas, and under the burn- 
ing tropical sun, and among the swamps and la- 
goons of Louisiana, and its summer in South Car- 
olina, we ma\' onl\- wonder tiiat tlie number of dis- 
abled did not comprise the entire regiment. 



IIISTOKV OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 



199 



CllAl^TKR XW'III. 
'iiiiK'iv-FiKsi' MAIM-: Ri:(;iMi:N'r. 
In the \\-i liter oF 1X64 t'.ic war dcp.irtnicnt made 
a retiuisition uj^on tlie State ol' Maine for two more 
regiments of men for t'le war. The terrible dr.iin 
m ide upon the able boilieil m?n in Aroosto;)k coun- 
ts raisjil t'vj fjuj^tion o'" t'u ad\ is.ibility of as- 
siL::ninLj: one of th-j companies to that county. Un- 
der tliese circumstances, Governor (\)ney offered 
ii commission to C. II. Ellis. w!i) Ind serxedas 
chaplain in the iith ;ind ha 1 c:)nsiderable ex- 
perienjc in enlistinu" m.-n for the army. A lea\e 
of absence from tie arm/ b.ospital at Portland, 
where he \\ as tlien enr-j'o ,ed. a briel interx iew 
with the <^o\ernor ;.t Auj^-usti, and he was on his 
w.iy t ) his home at Maple Cir.)\ e. The third day 
ol" we ir\- sta'^anLT from Han^'or was last wearing' 
awa\, when a hall wa^^ called to chan-e miil at a 
pri\.ite h)ase in a small opening-, in the townsliip 
ol' Mars Hill. A ^ood \no]< and a few words with 
the acting- postm/.ster. and a slop w.is m i.Ij until 
the next da\". 



200 



HISTORY OF Foi;r fairfield. 



T)cforc the close of that dnw the enlistment pa- 
pers of Ilenr\- (). Ferr\- and two or tliree ol' his 
neiii,-hb()rs were made out and signed, and the work 
of or^-anizinL:,- Cm. E, 31st Maine Re^'iment, had 
taken tangible form. 

Before lea\ing Augusta, an inter\ iew liad been 
held with Dr. Rogers of Patten, and an agreement 
made to gi\e his son, Edwin S. Rogers, a lieuten- 
ant's commission, upon the condition that he en- 
listed twenty men. The work went rapidh- for- 
ward. 

The great distance iVom the capital of the State, 
where the mi.r went into camp until the organ- 
ization of thi' regiment was pcrlected, placed the 
compan^• at a disadvantage, and although no com- 
pan^■ was enlisted as promptly, it was the lifth com- 
pany to be mustered into ser\ ice. Lieutenant 
Rogers, wlio was an undergraduate at Bowdoin 
college, immediateh' reported at the camp at .\u- 
gusta, and his father at Patten largeh- did the work 
of enlisting the men. 

On the iSth of April, 1864, the regiment, con- 
sisting of nine companies and thirty-four com- 
missioned officers, left Augusta (Compan\' K joined 
the regiment at the North Anna, the last of ]Ma\- ) 
in time to join Burnside at .Vnnapolis, and proceed 
t ) the Rapidan in time to take an ;icti\ e part in 
the battle of th.e Wilderness on the lOth of May. 
Amouii' the otlicers of the regiment there were 




E. L. iioiGirrox's residence. 



nisioKY oi' "I'oK r f.\:riii:!J). 



-^^M 



\cr\- fVv.- ni'.'i witho'.it cxp'jricncc. not niil\- in 
camp and upon 1.1k- niarcli, but (*ii llie balllc-lK-1'J. 
\\'ila OIK' oi' l\v.) c'\c;.'i")tions. l:ij cajHai'i^ ol' the 
.scxcral c aiipanics were competent t) lead the 
re;4inKMU into action. IIeni\- (). l^eiiy, tiK- lirst 
man enlisted in tlie comjxmx", was made orderl\- 
sjri;-eant, and \ er\- laru-el\- the care of the nK'ii was 
in his hands. Sery-eant Perr\- almost iVom the 
tirst had the Tnll confidence ol" both (^llicers and 
men. lie kept the roll of the compariw looked 
a'ter drav.in',;" rations {'ov the men, and a leaih, 
sick or di.vd">led soldier t'oand in him a true t'rientk 
Xo c;)n"ipan\- in the re;:;imjnt was better pro- 
\ ided for, and nt) soldier e\ er ^M'vC better assur- 
ance that his itron:otion to olllcc w(n Id be b(4h 
i 1 the i'nteresi: of the L;-o\ernr.K-nt, antl th.- soldiers 
u ul.-r his c ):ii n i v.k in the W'ildei'ne.-.-, at Sp:)tl- 
N\l\ai ia, id the North Ania and L'old Ilaibi )-, iIk- 
_^isl was <4l\en all iIk" work the\" conltl do. In tlu 
baUle of the W'ild.er.K'ss the lovs was t\venl\ -nine, 
and C'lpt. A. 11. I'ackard ::n(.\ Lient.-nanl A. b 
vSnow wer.- killed. At ^ o'clock a. m., on the 
m )rn> n;;- of Ma\- iJ'ih. the I'CLiinK'nt m ide its as- 
si dl ii"p >i the raiiioas 1^1 ).)d\' Ai'^Ie, an.lih' )\ e the 
eiK na v.r.i] u c k r( ^si : so i. < ! iIk ir wo lis. 1 i t r< t 
bein;'- pr.)peid\ s ijvp >rl ; 1 the-\- fell back, ar.il in ad- 
\aiKe ofonr re^idar lir.e, a:ol onl\ a lew r,»ds IViJin 
the eijiir.s W( rk, threw up ir.lrer.chmer.ts aiul 
1 eid I'k" Lro'.v.ul l"o- six ckn: . .\'rain on. the iSlh, 



:o4 



HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRJ-IELI). 



three sueeessixe ;iss;ui]ts were iiKide upon the 
eneni\""s work, willi the terrible loss ol" unc hur.- 
(Ired and sixt\-ti\e men. Ten were killed or.t- 
rii;ht and eiL;"hteen died ol their wounds, .\mong- 
t!ie nnniber was Captiin A. K. P. Wallace of Con> 
p.in\- ]>. The l.isi: e!i.irii;e at vSp jtisxlwrnia, which 
was on the line oT the ?vIcCook House, was made 
just one month al'ter the rcL^iment marched or.t of 
Auo-r.sta to the tane of ''The Ciirl I Left Behind 
Me." Dr.rinij;- th.at month c\ er or^e ;:e\enth (d' its 
mcii had fallen in battle. At the North Ann.i 
the regiment was pressed forward tj the front 
and assigned a position at t\\2 cxtreni: right of 
the line, and u hen the order came in the night 
t;; fall back, it obe\-ed the order like veterans, 
and was the List to re-ci\)ss the Chcstertield brido^e. 
At the Xortli Anna, Lieatenant W. O. Tibbctts and 
I'oy.r men were killed and several v,'o:;nded. On 
the zd of Jur.e, alter a few hcurs' march, t!";e\' were 
upon the Cold Harbor battletield, but it was not 
imtil the micmorable morning of tb.e 'd, thr.t the\- 
Vvcre ;icti\ el\' engaged. After dri\ ing in the ere- 
m\"s pickets, a line of battle w;is formed, and com- 
panic.-. E and G, Captains Ellis and Getchell com^ 
manding, were ordere.l t) l")rni in skirmish linj 
c )\ \\-i 1 i" the e itire F-(nt ol" tlu re;-imji;a' li u, 
and adxance, supported h\ the regiaunL. In this 
ch: rge tliere were twent\-nine killed and iortv- 
one wounded, ('apt. jnmes M. ^^'illi.^r.s aral I ie.i- 



iiisTOKV ()!•' I'oirr IAlRFIi:i.I'. 



U'liant Charles A. I'^iniiiL^ton wore anionu- the 
number killed. 

();i the Jl'i of June, while intrenehecl near tlu 
("old Harbor ballfe-tield. TJcutenant Edwin S. Ro- 
o-crs of Co. 1^. who had been detailed to eomniar.d 
(^\,, (^\ — whieh lound itsell" without a eommissior.ed 
otlieerable lo report lor duty — was in eomniand (A 
\'\c pi.kel lin- when a fierje attack was made up- 
on t;u- line, whieli resulted in the line b-einu- l.ro- 
ken and driven in, and Lieutenant Rouers beini:' 
wounded and taken prisoner. ("ajU. Kllis with L'o. 
I-', was ordered to make a counter eharue and re- 
store and re-establis!i the picket line. In this en- 
counter, se\ei-al ir.en weie killed and L'apt. L. 11. 
l*"llis daniierou.sK- wounded. 

On that da\- ist Lieut. Sb.eahan. who had been 
diseharued from the ist Maine Cavalry to accept 
a commission, joined the i-euiment. Serjeant I'er- 
r\-, however, luul laruely the interests and com- 
mand ol" tlK- re^inunt upon his hands, and shou.ld 
ha\e been immediately promoted to the captaincy. 
It was not until October the 7th that Capt. Kllis 
was able to rep )rt at the Annapolis hospital. I'p- 
on his arrixal thei-e. and examination by the snr- 
o-eon. it was decided that his disability was per- 
manent, and b\- sjiecial oitlei- of the secretai\- ol w ar, 
he was discharged from service. Soon alter the 
^]2i.\ Maine Re-imcnt was consolidated with the ,^ist. 
L'ajit. Ke\s oI'L'o. K. .:;_h1. wasoixen commanti of'Co. 



2(){i 



HISTORY OK I'Oll'l' rAIiU-TElJ). 



IC. ,^isU and as it was s.^\cral months before vac 
war clc'p;irtmcnt was satisliccl ol" the death of Lier.- 
tenant Rooers, there vras r.eeess.iril\- a dehi\' lu'lnre 
Sei"ij,cant Peri-\- o'ot his eomiiiission. 

Alter the battle oC the 3d ol" jiau'. aiul onl\- six 
weeks after lea\in<i- ^^fuiiu', the\- had borne thein- 
sebves s.) ^i^andlx', and i'ou<i,'ht so braxclw that (ier.- 
eral (jrithn, th.en brigade C( ir.iiiarder, ^aKb ''the 
31st lias won for its ofliccrs and men imperishad le 
I'enown." On the i 7th oi' jr.ne, the regiment was 
undei" tire, in \\ hieh p.ew lav.rels were won, but at 
a most terrible eost. The superior ad)iiit\- of its 
ollicers, and the eo:ira!j,'e and unw<i\ erinii' de\(>tion 
of its men, placed it at the first amon^- th.e \eteran 
regiments of th.e armw Witli on]\- li\e month.s in 
lie held it was \iitrall\- wiped out. FCi^-ht eap.- 
tains and two aetin^- captains had been killeJ.. Its 
total los.-; in <.|]i:e!\^ killed a.nd m jrtalK' wo.mde.l 
had I'eajhe.l ninet.'jn; a circum ;Lan.'e unpiralled 
in war, '1 lie (u st Pei-.nsx K a.nia lost an e(|ual luim- 
bci'. but its battles be^'an m June, iSSj. and ended 
in Api-ib iS,')3. \\'ith snch a record ofcarna^e and 
death, widi such dcNotion to t'ne old iki;^'. with such 
faithi'ul ser\ ice f(*i" one counti"\' and one thii^'. the 
ren'iment could well afford to ab.incb)n the tield 
and rest u-pon ils laurels. But such was not its 
inii'pose, ajul such is not its record. About two- 
luir.dred Iresh men were li .'ir.slc rred to its ranks, 
and it rem nned in tin- lield ur.til th.e cm] of the 



lllSrOltV 0I< FOHT r.UlU'MELD. 



207 



war. 'ihc uraiul total of killrtl and woiiiuU'd was 
six huiulifd and lwc!it\-cii4"lu ; of killed and niortal- 
1\' wounded, oni.' hundred antl cin'htv-thrce, and 
deaths IVoni all causes, three hundred and nine. 
.\nioni4' tile last in the field, it was in time t > do 
\aliant sei"\ ice and win iniperi>hable lenown. 



20S 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

r.lILI)IX(J MILLS. 

The carl\- sclllcrs were cnc;)iir;iL;cd b\ the lil)- 
cral p()lie\" of the State, in assistini;- them to seeiii-e 
homes. Not oiiK' were the State hinds sokl to ae- 
tiial settlers at hrt\- eeiUs per acre, to he paid in 
making' roads for their own benefit, but grants 
f)i' hind were made to .aid in buildiiiL:,' mills loi^ 
the maniilaetr.re ol" lumber from \\hieh to build 
them liomes. 'I'he tirst o-rant of land in this to\\n- 
ship wa.s to I)i:dle\- V. I.eax itt, :ii:d th.e tirst mill, 
aided b\" the ^I'ant. was commenced Iw Pattee and 
I'h-isbee, who had bought or.t Mr. l,ea\itt. Mi". 
I'h-isbee soon sold out his iiitei'cst to Albion I\ 
lIa\'wood, and the mill was completed and In.si- 
ness eari-ied on for se\eral \-ears b\' Pattje and 
1 1 a \- wood 

This mill, which sawed onl\ lon^- lumber, was 
soon supplemented with a iirst-class mill for saw- 
ing- clapboards, and was located on the preser.t site 
of Mr. \\'. A. Haines* mills at the lower \illa*j:e. 
and on the h'it/herbert brook. 



HisioRY oi" i"()i;r iAiuiii:i.:). 



2in) 



In iN.|4 another ^rant of one llior.saiul acres 
was nia'Jc to f. W'in^.-itc Ilaincs, upon the condi- 
tion of biiilclinL;' a sawniill on tlu- lolir.ston br(;ok. 
r.cai" the Maple (iro\e settlenient. This mill wa-. 
ercjted on t'le j")icsent site oi" t'.ie i>r\ant mill, east 
of the Hon. James R. Thurlouiili's ("arm. 'Ihi^ \v;is 
sjon rollowed h\ a mill at the mouth of tlu- Lo\ e- 
1\- brook, {'or sawinLC short lumber, and in which 
Mr. E. W A\'hitne\" canaed on an extensive busi- 
ness, I'oi" th(/se times, lor se\ eral \eai"s. 

C. II. b]llis built a shingle mill on the Johnston 
brook, about si.\t\" rods bel(;\v the Ilaines sawmill, 
aid ab )at one mile bjlow, t'ae \\'hiddea mill was 
bidlt, and c-perated successi\ el\' b\ Osco A. bJlis 
and John F. Ellis. 

.Mr. Willi. im A. .Sarapson bought out the shingle 
mill b'.:ilt b\ L". II. bJlis, and champed it o\er into 
a ^rist mill, and erected another buildini;- Tor a 
cardinix machine, and put in steam power. 

Deacon Hiram Ste^ ens had sold his Maple Cjro\ e 
larm, aiul ccannienced an(/ther back from t!ie ri\ei- 
and about two miles from the \ i!laL,e. I'^indin^^ a 
larL;e ;imoi:nt ol cedar timber on his aiul adjoinini;- 
land, be put in a stear.i mill and did a i^-ood busi- 
r.ess manufacturinn" shinules. Deacon I•^■)Ster aiul 
Mr. Randall bouuht the old Pattee and Hayward 
mills aiul proceeded t > build a urist mill. Mr. Ran- 
ilall S(;on died, arc) his son. John II. Randall, took 
his i-.tcrest i:i t':e ir.ills. .\ Mr. Parixs who had 



2IO 



HISTORY OP^ FOKT FAI R I- I IlLD. 



run the carciiiiL;- inill for A\\ A. Sampson, l-xjii^lu 
il and reni(n ccl it to the site ( J" tlic \Miitncy mill, 
on the Lo\el\' brook. Deacon Foster Jind his son, 
Lineohi F(.ster, proceeded to Inild a ir.ill on the 
dani which had been pnt in to b.old \\-ater hjr th.eir 
mills at the \ illa':^e, wliere the Monson mill n(;\v 
stands. Deacon Ste\ens sold out his mill proper- 
ty and bought the beautiful Bishop Ihits, upon t!ie 
bank of the Aroostook ri\er, anil proceeded to 
build up his present extensi^•e business at Stexens- 
ville. The Howe mills, on the north side ol the 
rixer, were built, a dam was put in on the Johnston 
brook in the \illa!^-e and a mill erected; and a steam 
mill at the lower \illa^j;e for sawing sta\es and 
heading, b\- Mr. ). B. Robbing. 

On the darn at the Johnston brook there is n(;w 
a large starch factoi-\-, and the Magi II c:irding ma- 
chiPiC, aaul doors, s.tairs, and moulding factory. In 
addition to a com}->lete supply oi' lumber lor the 
home market, a large amourit of sIkuI lumber has 
b-een annualh- shipped to t'ne l^oston m;irket. But- 
ter and cheese factories have been established in 
the town, but the hirge profits on the potato crops 
h;i\ e been loo ;itlr;:eti\e to alh.w [\u\ other farn:- 
ing i^,(lustr^■ a s'j.re footing. 

l-^u- mar.v \ ears the nuir.ui'Ktuiipig- of split < r 
sluiNcd shiuLdcs was an importarit l)i:sir.ess, ai:d be I 
lor tlie fori urilj introduction of t'ne potato industry, 
llie Icmli'rinLi' bisir.css world stard I'r^l in oi r 




HON. W. E. PARSONS RESIDENCE. 




THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



HISIOKV Or I'OK'l" FAlKlli:i.l). 



1 I 



t,)\\n. 'riu' L:rv)\vinL;- tinibcT on t'.u- luM'.lwatcrs ol 
t!ic I'^itzlicrbcrl Irook will si;p):;Iy loi^s for the 
Monson mill loi- ;i ^oiH-ralion. ami the I'ryant mill 
will not St iiul to m inr.l'acturL' the lumber within 
its reach; t!ie Haines iiiill obtains its supply n'.ost- 
1\- from the headwaters of th.e I'ht/.lu'rbei-t brook, 
wliile the Stj\ ens manul'a Jturini;" eomiviny and 
the Ilowe mill obtain their sujipl)' ollumbei- Iroiii 
the waters of the Ar;)()st.)()k ri\er an.d its trilv.;- 
tai'ies. 

S'l'Al.".!! IW.'I'OUIKS. 

Tile mm wlio tirsl inxesied his mone) in a st i-reh 
faetorx in l'\)rt l'\iirrield was indeed a public ber.e- 
raet(;r. While il may be true t'nat he only looked 
to his indi\idual interest, and only tiiouuht oC mak- 
inn" m;>ne\-, his act haspr.)\cd :)l"almost in.eslimal Ic 
benefit t.) the town and county. Witlioct the i::- 
trv)duction of tliis brancli oi' m riui"a:larin;4\ tlie 
farmers wovdd not iia\ e been w.iri-anted in er,- 
HMU'in'4 in extensixe p:)tat;) raisinL;", antl w'nilc the 
six potato factories in tliis town dejK'nd lai-uely up- 
on snidl a v.l dami^e.l |).)tatjcs. in otlier sectiors 
of the co-.int,-. and farther iVom ihc railroads, the 

starch fa-t:-ries have to a l.ir;4er extent entered in- 
t ) the p >tito raisin;^ industry. 

'11k- one li-l that llirou.Lih the ^.tarcll fa^toiies, 

I otaloes (.a.n alvr i\s be rold abo\ e the cost ol pro- 
d icti,>n, i>Lice.. t'n- f irnices wlvcrj they ca:i sately 

rai.-e lar-'o. -.rops. .-ir.d by :o doini: be in a ^il^:Ui("A 



214 



HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRFIELD. 



to meet ;in\" clcni;ind that the ni.irkct umy make up- 
on them. In Tact, the stareh industr\' a:ul raisin >; 
potatoes ior the market b\' tlie Arv):)sI:o:)k farmers, 
ha\ e eome to be h)oked upon as one industrw The 
mills, whether to manufacture the timber into 
boards and shingles or the potatoes into starch, 
are the ci\ enu.es through which raw material is 
C(;n\ cited into better condition to be sliipped to 
the markets ol" the world, and at the same time 
^'i^■e additional emphnment lor labor in the h(;me 
market, and b\' so much increase th.e wealth and 
prospcritx" ol" the cour.ti'\'. 



iiisToi-iY oi" i()i;r i'.\ii<i'ii:i.i). 



SlIIOOI.S ()!•- !-()K|- l'.\fRFli;i,l). 

In this i'-Av laiul. beneath the shadow of the i-.orth 
pole, where the solt /.e-ph\ rs rustled the tin\- needles 
ol'tiie stately pines and joined t'neir rxthmic straii.s 
wlt!i the s :)le:nn diri^'e o!" tlie lijrej north wind, 
niakinL^- weird nir.sie to eharni the diisk\ sa\ ai^'e 
stealthil\- stalkino- thj an'le/ed ni;)ose to his e\er- 
Li"ree 1 eowrts. tlie \oiee oi' Miu-rva had not jien- 
etrated to open the minds of the dwellers to the 
beauties of tlieir surroundinL,s. 

1 lere, mid the I'^rimexal I'oi-esls whose deep shade 
alTorded shelter to the wile\' 1o\ and timid deer: 
where the b.eanis of the risin^- sun kissed the llr.t- 
teiin^- lea\ es, the fii'st settlers hewed theii' lo^- eab- 
ins and reared their families. \o bo;»ks graced 
the rouiih walls, and i-.one the\' knew. sa\ i' the 
ureat book nature spread out before them, with 
lea\ es ol \ arie<j:ated hr.e in summei". aiul in winter 
bound with sn(-w\- eo\ er and sealed with libs of 
iee. 

Xo seh.o(;ls kr.ew the\- i-xei'pt tl.e seh.<-( Is of 



2l6 



inSTCRY CV I CI.T rAiniiiD. 



trout and ^allr.()n wliich 



;;br>r.d;;r.c"c' s\\ anr.cd 



the slrcanis whose sparkling' waters were eloseh' 
studied, as within their limpid depths and rushini;' 
easeades hi\' ih.eir ehoieiest lood: and thus, lor 
years, tl-.ese hard\ j-jioneeis h'\ed. h)\ed. I'elled the 
lorest, tilled the soil ai:d edueated their ehildren in 
t!ie traditions ol" the past as the\' elustered around 
tlie open fire oir tlie loni;,- win.ter e\enir,L!,'s. 



'•Fur Icariiiiio" and tor 



tll(■^■ sail 



'''llicy iie\ cr had a \vi>Ii : 
No scliool to lliciii was woilli a liu;, 
I''\c('p( a sc-lioi I if lisli."' 

h^)r man\- \ ears the spjuseK- settled territor\- 
alon^" the hauiks (A the .Arcc.stcc.k ri\ er, r.(,w tlie 
"(larden (;! Madne," had Uieither sehools nor sehool- 
h.ouses; but as new settlers eame to assist in de\ el- 
( pin^' the res;)i:rees ol' the Forest, makin^- homes 
lor themseKes, a desire to edu.eate their ehildre:i 
beeanie the leading- or.e with n"iar,\- (d' them; and 
efforts werj made to establish a sehool where tlie 
\()uths (/f t'ae settlement eoudd u'ain a ru.dimentar\- 
edueation. 

Until 1S4S. desultor\- r^ttempts were made to 
teaeh the ehiklren; now a sehool would be held 
in some se\ en hv nine shantw and then in moi-e 
eommodious cjuarters. 'Idie hrst traditional effort 
to ha\ e a sehool oeeun^ed sometime in the earl\' 
forties, \\ hen Mrs. Lo\ejo\', wdio had aeeompanied 
lier husband to this loeaditw tau<rht the ehildren ol' 



iiis'rc)ii\ oi' roRT 1AI1-; I i;:i,i). 



2 1 



a few scUk'Ts in ov.v ol ihcsc rr.clc caln'ns wliicli at 
t'u' tiiiu' liapjU'iicd to he iinocciipicd. 

W'lu'n tlu' j^ossc was (juarttTcd in tlu- bariMcks, 
one of tlu- numbers opeiu'd a school: anch while 
he iiiaetieecl llie m.iiv.ial of ai'nis, tau<j,ht tlie more 
ennobnnLi" arts of peace. 

In '4S or \p), a sniall sehoolhor.se was ti'eeted 
neai' the resilience of W in^'ate IIair.es, heinii' the 
\]\>{ in the limits of the present town: and. soon. 
tluTc foUowed tb.e i"ed schoolhor.se (-1" local lame, 
the black schoolhouse at the L'orner. <ine in the 
Hishop lUMLihborhood and oiu- at the \ illaL^e. near 
the present residence of .Mr. Webber, built b\ a 
stock comj-jain consistinL:' of L'. R. I'aul, ). Sterl- 
ing', (ien. 'rral'ton. S. !>. I'attee. i'dbrid.ue W. 
Waite .\. S. Richards. W'm. Johnst > n and J. !>. 
Win--. 

llere in this rude sti\ijture tlu' children rcjcixed 
tlieir instructit)n i.i t'.ie elementar\' w.)rk of educa- 
cition. un.ler th.- care of I'lithful teachers: and 
IVom its w.dls went foi-tli m:in\- students whose 
career ciinobled the little, old structure as well as 
those wlio LiM\ e oT their substance that it mi^ht be 
a benellt to the lisin^' Li'eneiMtion. 

l^ut like man\- thinii's that ha\ e outui'own their 
usefulness, the room that echoeii to the meri"\' 
\ oices of the chikhen of lon<4' a;j"o. and within 
which tile eai'nest ti^'avdiei" sii-oxx- to inijtress upon 
the minds o!" his schol:ii"s wise and sei'io-.is truths. 



2l8 



HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRFIELD. 



tlic cUit\- of obedience and a desire for knowledge, 
lon^" since became the rep;)sit()ry of \'ulgar handi- 
work, and now stands ajros.^ tlie raih'oad tr.ick 
eon\ei-led into a tenement: -"Sic transit ^-Joria 
munch. ' 

.\t tlie oi-i^-anization oC the township into tlie 
phmtation called Letter D, the citizens chose Chas. 
R. l^iul snper\is(n- of schools ; and tliis h.)n;)rab!e 
position he fdled well and fiithfidiy foi- three ycai-s. 
and as mone\- was scarce and the j^ople poor, he 
took for his \aluable ser\ices, one ol' the teachers. 
Miss Agnes ('. Johnston, who was one of the suc- 
cessful teachers in those da\s wlien schools were 
rare and wages low. 

About 'v'^ the \illage w.is di\ided into two dis- 
tricts; and the citi/en.s of tlie upper distiact. in 
conjunction with Isaaj Ilicker, erected a two 
st()r\- building, the upper flat being owned and used 
b\- ?vlr. Hacker as a public iidl, while the lower 
room was litted up lor school pu.rposes. 

l'^)r scNcral \ears the \ illage schools were taught 
in these two buildings, the scholars, meanwhile, 
becoming more numerous as new additions to the 
place were made b\- people from the western part 
oi'the state, who became settlers of the town. 

Soon after the close of the \var, the two districts 
in the \ illage were unitt'd; the upper district con- 
\e\ed their sjhorol propcrtx' t ) the town, a!id the 
lower district sold the old school house to ^[^■. 



msioKV ():•' i-oiri' lAii^i-ii:!.:). 



J K) 



Ts.i i; II i:'';'ji-, w'l ) li 1 1 it ni )\ c \ I > I'l.' f ) >l ul' 
l-'ort Hill. While niox inn' llu- buiklinLi', llie |ilasLe!"- 
iiiLi^ was shaken h^om tlic ccilinu", antl other damage 
clone tliat clenianded sjU'ecK repair, and Mr. Il.ukei- 
enii"au"ed the ser\ ices of C R. I\rd, a iiij <L'r innsoii, 
to repair the broken eeilin^': Mr. I laeker li-cMiiii- \\\) 
throiiii'h the seuttle hole t ) arrran^'e s )nK- thinus 
in the atlie. 

Charles labored indiistrior.sl\- to cover the IVae- 
ti:re wit'n laths and mortar: and with wear\- limbs 
and j-'ei'Sj'jirinLi' br(,w, sat down to i-est al'tei" eoni- 
]")letinLi" the job. Hut s;)on the \ oiee ol" Mr. Ilackei" 
was heaixl in the :itti^- eallini^-, ••i\iul, Paul, wh\" 
pcr.seJutes'L tli )a \w:': I._'t m _• oat, L-'. w\: d<-wnl"' 

Sure enou^'h, L'harles had plastered r.j") the se'.:t- 
tle hole in the eeiliiiLi' where Mi". 1 lacker had L;oi-;e 
iij") thi'oan'h: and lo his cbsni iw all thi- hard w )i'k 
had t;) be doi-.e (-\er a-^ain, in order t > let tlie j^ris- 
o:'.er escajie. 

.\m;)ni4the earl\ tji--hei\> whose names will be 
rcm.-mb.'rc.l b\ th_- older i-esidents. arc found: 
StacN b^)\\ lei", W'm. 'ihal'ton, Mr. 'i'hompson, C"has. 
Ilcrrln, Mr. L'arr, Mis. Li/, dc Hcan, Mi>s Ila\- 
woo.b Miss St ickpole. Miss M. 1 >. Idbbx antl Miss 
A < '. |o!i!".ston. 

The unity (;1 the di.^trijts in (;nc, J4:i\ c the pe-»ple 
a iiplc meai-.s \. j ha. c p.urc ctjmr.udiov.Li (p.uirtcrs 
t!i:i:i hcret.jforc; and th'j district ]v.:rchr,scd a let 
ne ir t"ie rcside.ice of Wm. Small; a:":d \\\ k:k)\\~ 



2ZO 



i:ibTUKY OF KCKT J'AIKI lELD. 



jiuu'tion witli Eiistcrn P^roiiticr LocIl^'c, Xo. 112, 1*\ 
c\; A. M., erected a laiye Iv.iiklia^- \\)V tliattinie; 
the Masoiis occiipxin^' tlie third ll():>r for lodi^i'e par- 
poses, and the other t\v.) bein^- used lor sjliools. 

Here was held tor se\eral \ears a t litioa hi^h 
seliool; t'ae people feeling" t'aat a hiLi'Iver L;rade 
would enable them to ajhie\e I'ar better re rails 
tlian the ordinar\' ecKiinion schools, as h\ the laws 
of the State, cerLiin studies eoald not be taui^'ht, 
\\hieh were of inrportance to tho:.- wlio desii-ed to 
become teachers. The tuition h:'_>-h scliools wei^e 
taught by V. \\ . Smitli, Miss V. \i. Ilinekly, Miss 
r:. F. Ilinekly, Miss A. E. Snrdl, Mis. M."c. Call 
and Miss II. L". Rin^-. 

AVhile tlie \illaii,'e and two or tliree oatKin;;- dis- 
tricts were lairh' well supplied with school houses, 
a lari^'e number ol" the districts ha.l none at all, or 
il'iU'.N", so po( r v.n apoloLN' for a h( use that sjh;)ols 
ecadd be kep.t in them oid\- in the sanvner. In 
iSyO, e\"en, althouu,-!! the town eont line.l eii;"ht hun- 
dred and eii^-ht scholars, and numlvcre.l twenty di.->- 
triets, it is not surprisin^", raidei" the old district 
s\-stem, to read the followin<i- in the school report: 

"In the r.ir.tter ol' school luvc.ses. it seems to i:s 
tliat tlie time has come for the town to tike a:tioi 
accordiuL;- to tlvc law passed by the lei^islature 
of 1867, to raise m )nee and assess taxes on sca cr- 
al of the district~< in town, foi- the purp.)Se of build- 
in "■ s c h o o 1 h o u s e s . T h e r e a re n ) -a- t w c 1 1 -c d i s t ;■ i ; t s 




GEO. L. FOSS AND FEARLESS. 




C. C. ROGERS' BUILDING. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAlRFIliLD. 



in town, and only seven houses in which a winter 
school ean'be hekl: and some ol" ihese are mere 
shells, and very uneomrortable. 

The reporter 1S72 reads: ••S;)me di^h-icts are 
ir.Mblet . l).iildsjh).lh )uscs; and the town, kn'.w- 
in- their inibilitv, will n)t compel them to dx s., 
while others, m ire able, are doubly unwlllin;4-,^and 
\oters shrink fro;ii any c )mpuls ,ry a:t wliich 
sjcm. like partial salTra-e. H'w cm w.- rem- 
e.ly t'.K' evil? S )in: are c ).itide:U that -•o!)d school- 
house, w-.uld b.- scjure.l by ab >lishin- the 'di- 
trict svstem; but wh) will abulish itr The vo- 
ters in each town hive the p .wer, but in our 
rural towns have ivt the inclination. 1 do not 
think that Ine inlelli.ii-ent men. after a earclul ex- 
amination. cnu\d be round who would abolish 
the disli'ict system. 

Shadi- of .K|);iiU-<l i;ir;iliuss. 
Now liaUi till- ini;4ii'y t:ilKn '. 

During- the several previous ycar>, the schools 
,,1 the town were under the ir.strr.ction el" Misses 
S. 1. Waite, Mar\ ^'ummin,->, M. A. Ketchum. 1.. 
l-:."sterlino-. .\. S. Small. O. A. Currier. M. l-- 
Hyde. 1.. A. l^ilnam. 1. P. llaine> and scxeral 
(.liier. of u hom the supervisor.. \n ere pleased to say 
that Ihev labored earnestly and well I'.^r tlie pupds 
under their care, handicapped a^ they were by a 
lack ol" proper apparatus. 

Tlie seNcral trrm- of tuiti(.n hi-h school ha-l 



^-4 



HISTORY OF rOKT FAIR I-IELD. 



Liixcn the people a chanee to learn of tlieir \alr.e; 
and the State ha^ inL;- passed a hiw , a.ppropriatin;;- 
fands to towns that wanild I'aise nionex' lorthesr.p- 
port ol (Vee hi'^'h sjhools, this town was not lar 
behind in a\ailinL;- itsjlf of the a-l\ant.i;;'e whieh 
this I'mul afforded, and in t'ne sjhool report ol" 
i.Sy:>, the saper\ isor appeals to the \ oters ol the 
town to a\ail t!iern;sel\es of this henihcj'.t boon in 
t'ne I'ollowinL;-: 

•■l'\)r se\ e!'al xears our hi^'h school h;is been de- 
pendent on tuition for s:;pport; bi:t, thrcnigh the 
liberal it\- ol" the le'iislatui'e, we nriy now make its 
blessings i'wv to all our Nor.th. \\\ i-aisifi^- this 
r.md we rejelxe as much from the State t.) defray 
the expense ol" instruction. a;id make it a //re r.s 
well :is a //iif/i s.diool. Let r.s by or.r \otcs open 
t!ie a\"enr.es to science so that ouryont'n maycoHiC 
without mone\- and witliont pi^ice tj sliarc its bles- 
sinus." 

:\t tlie annual t:;wn meeting- of i-Sj^, the tjwn 
\(;tedi t ) raise $i^() for the sr.pp( rt of a free hiiih 
school. Tiie tnition schocd became a tliinii' (A' the 
past. Net its ^cxjd work li\ ed a'.ul shone forth in the 
enero-y of those teachers who had tlierc recei\ed 
their instruction : and the mjmoi-\- of th(.se i'ait'n- 
iul instructors whj labored for tlieir p-upils will 
I'siniain a golden halo in the breasts of their schol- 
ars till time draws tlicir mantle about t'lcm and 
tlicv lie d<.^^•n to pleasant dreaiF-s, 



jn>T(Jl<V Ol" FORT rAIUl-ICIJ). 



TIk- fii'St term of iVcc hin'li sjliotil was iiiuk'r the 
instruction of Mis-, Itattic L". Rinu' of LmIhw wit'i 
Nicholas l'\'ss.-:HU'n, now sccrctai"\' (-f .State. ;.s :".;;- 
sistant. who was also supcr\"isor. and in his report 
sa\s of t!ic school: "The princip.il was earnest in 
her el't'oi-ts. and sustained her Iiiiih reputation a; 
an etlicient and thor^niLi'h ipistructor."' 

The fai! term was under the manau'cment of 
Nicholas l'\'ssenden, jirincipal, and Miss Mary K. 
Ilxde assistant, and Mr. Fcsscnden modestly adds, 
•■\'er\- much of the success and merit ol the 
school, il it hatl an\, was due to the laithlul and 
competent labors of Miss ll\de, who brDUuht to 
her woi'k a;cai"a',- and advanced know led^'e. com- 
bine'cl wit!i readx' tact to teach and lo\ e lor the 
labor." 

Miss II\tle was also jirincipal of a branch ol" 
I'le hiii'h school, taught at Maple (iroxe. wliich I'ld- 
1\- sustained tlie reputation of t!ie te ichei- lor skill 
and accuracy 

A new coi'i^s of tcachei-s now w i(.'ided the "uad," 
anions w hich w ere, — Misses Li//ie I'.. TraHon, M. 
\\. Kniiiht. L'arrie Richards, Mar\- Haley, !.. J.Cr.r- 
riei". Alice j. Small. Mr. \'. W. Wilson and II. C. 
Townsc-nd. 

The ni>_iluni ire of educatitvial pi"OLi'ress hunti" 
hea\il\ uj">on the mintls olthe ]H"ople, and xcl \al- 
iant efforts weie made b\ the faithful fiienc's to 
tlispel the dark cloud tliat for \ears had Iiuul;- black 



226 



HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRFIELD. 



and lowering- above tlic cduciitional horizon in the 
hateful i^aiise of the ''district s\stem." As late as 
1N75, the balelid effects of this octopus is ]">or- 
trayed in the report ol' the supervisor: and all the 
friends of the old district s\-stem should read the 
same. 

"Fourteen hundred dollars due Irom the town to 
schools unexpended: and ()id\- ,v/.v decent school- 
houses in town. 

'*Xo maps, no globes, dictionaries, charts or 
blackboards oi" an\- importance in an\' district in 
the town." 

And in the matter of teachers and ai;ents the 
i-eport reads : "It seems to me the super\isor 
should ha\"e the whole control of hiring teachers, 
instead of di\iding that responsibilit\- witli twentv- 
two agents who stand upon middle ground between 
the super\isor and the teachers. In man\' cases 
the actions of the agent sa\- to the super\isor. "^^)U 
would not certificate the teacher I hired and 1 w ill 
not hire the teacher \ ou certiticate." 

In the matter ol' schoolhouses the repoi't truth- 
i'ulh' sa\ s : "'I'he other sixteen buildings ai"e cold, 
cheerless pc/?s. unfit for a human being to tenaiit. 
Poor seats, and often none, unless a phink, poor 
floors, in fact, pnor in e\er\- respect, and the onl\- 
cause ol wonderment is, that tcacliers can teach, 
and scholars can stud\- as well as the\- do, in them. 
W^Iktc do.'s the resp:)nsibilit\- lie? Let the town 



iiisi'om oi- I'oR 1 I'AiK iii:i.i), 22y 

abolish the district s^■stcm. take possession of the 
school i-)r()pert\'. ha\ e- at its tlisposal. in addition to 
tlie sum now raised, piwisidx" thi' am )anl the dis- 
tiicts exi^eiul Idi" new schoolhoiises aiul I'cpairs, 
and in a comparati\el\- sliort time all t!ie school- 
houses can be made i^ood, or new one,-^ built wher- 
I'N e'l" needetl; and. uraduallw maps, globes, black- 
boards, dictionai'ies and such necessarv appliances 
will make their appea.rance. ' 

Alter reading" the abo\e it is i-elrcshinii- to the 
laithl'ul. earnest friends of education to look o\ er 
the town in this \ear. iSc)^. antl behold what haxoc 
the hand of time has made with the district s\stem 
and what beai.tifid lesults ha\e followed its aboli- 
tion. 

The schools of the xillai^'c are i\'all\ examples 
of the pronress made throu^hou.t th.e town: aiul 
hence these schools w ill loian the nucleus of tlu- 
]")resent histoi-\ . 

The fall teim of free hi^h school was under the 
manau'cmcnt ol' Lhailes k. Ilawes. a uraduate of 
r)owcloin. assisteil In kraid^ 1'. ()rcult: ihc spring' 
term by I'-. J. Pratt wilh R. Ik Iniiais as assistant. 
Anions the teachers of the town ma\ be Ibuiul 
Misses C'ariie Richards. Nellie K. Thurlouuh. lam- 
ina Slocomb, Mattic J. kindlen. Lillie Hopkins. 
Rosr ThurloULih. Sadie T. llo\ t. Rom' I lali\ . Kate 
llale\. Tressa i'^indlen. f^-ankiL' j-'ai-rcl and klor- 
incc Ik Rollins. 



^2cS 



HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRFljbLD. 



The report of 1877 sliows that the earnest work 
of the eilueators had pr.):laje:l ^'o;):! results, and 
an entering- wedgv had be^^n placed, which, if prop- 
erly propelled. w,)iild he ol lasting- benefit to the 
schools. The report states: '-Uv vote of the town 
the hiring- of teachers was transferred to the sii- 
per\is()r." And in reu;ard to school houses, — "'We 
have on]\- h\e schoolhouscs saitable for \\inter 
schools. In eiii'ht there ha\ c been no wintci" 
schoals on account of t'acir unhinc^s; t'ais state of 
things ought not to be, bat who is able to point out 
a remed\" r" 

The abo\e statement sounds strange to the stu- 
dent of to-da\- when he recalls that, in i''^73. the 
\ ablation ol'thetown was one half a million dollars, 
a population ol" about two thousand live hundred, 
some one thousand scholars, and a school fund ol 
$4,125, and as late as the annual meeting in >rareh, 
1877, ,^1,458 (^1 the school lund remained unex- 
pended, ibr lack of proper school facilities. 

In 1876, the free high school was taught b\" K. 
J, Pratt, Miss L. A. Putnam assisting: and in the 
spring by Miss M.L'. Hunter, assisted by V. P. 
Oreutt. These schools were well attended, and 
good results Ibllowed. The teachers were com- 
petent, experienced and ambitious. 

In 1877, one new school house was built in the 
Powers district, and the super\ isor hails with joy 
this awakening ol'the people to their wants in his 
report. 



IlI.s■l■<)K^ OF i-()i;r iairfii:i.1). 



229 



"Witli one l.iiKlabk' exception, the sehoolliouses 
:\w in the s.inie contlilio:! a ^ at the close ol' last 
\ ear. l)istricl Xo. (\ has within the \ ear, coni- 
]>leted an elenant schoolhonse, which stands as a 
monument t > tne liberahiN and educational standing' 
of the district, which has so hea\ il\ taxed itscll' for 
this much needed institution, and as a reproach t;) 
other districts, equalK' able to do in proportion to 
theii" \aluation, what this disti"ict lias so nobl\ 
doiie. it ma\ well be hoped that the erection of 
this new schoolhousc. now the be>t in town, ma\' 
excite an h.or.orable spiiit d" emulation in other 
districts, i'or wit'.i:)'.it comfortable houses, i^-ood and 
protitable scliools are an impossibilitx . 

'I'hc citizens of this district were, i'.uleed. pi'outl 
ol' their effoiis: anil when the Innkun*^' waN com- 
pleted, arraniicd to ha\e il app/ropriatch' dedicated 
t;) tlie.cav.se (d' educaticMi: ai'.d the committee (d' 
arian^ements in\ited X. 11. Martin, principal (d' 
the hi^h sciiord, to de!i\er the tiedication speech, 
w diich he did from the text, •'And it wa^ in t'ne 
heart oT DaN id to build an hoi;.se t.> t'.ie >!<.sl lli^h 
Ciod." 



HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

SLiioo!,,'-; oi^ For T i\\irfi;:li) — l'omi.m icd. 

Tlic T^rcc lli^h School in the fall of 1S77 \\;is 
under the instinietion oC X. II. Mai"tin, I). vS., as 
]^rinei]ial, assisted hv R. B. I)Uit,s. l). L'. L., both 
^radi'.ates (,!' the Maine State CoIlei;e oi' A^rieii!- 
tin"e arid Meehar.ie Arts. 

Of this seliool the supeiA isor. X. I'A'ssenden, sa\ s 
in liis re]:)()rt: "One oftlie best, if not the best, i'ree 
hii^'h seliool which we lia\c' e\er had, in all vc- 
spects jushi'NinLi' the reputation of the teachers and 
the wisdom of the expenditure ol' tlie towni mone\' 
for Tree hi'^-h schools." 

The le^islati:re ol' 1S80, osten.sibh- tj curtail 
State e.\}")enses, s".:spended the act donatiuLi' lands 
lor the Tree hif^'h sjhools; and the supcr\isor, Mr, 
IMartin, has this to sa\' of the auction: 

''In suspendini;- the act relatini;- to free Id di 
schools, th.e IcL^islature lias dor.e a i^ross inju.stice 
to our countr\' teachers, wh.ose limited meaiis will 
not enable t'icm to go awa^' from home to prepare 
tliemseh es to teach." 




Al.AioN >. i<KJiAl<!)^ 



HISTORY OF l^OK r FA I R !• I iCLI). 



^33 



This WAV tlu' siij-jcrviscjr adopted tlic system of 
public c\;inii:iati()n of teachers ; an ino\ation in the 
time honored custom of teachers enu'a^'iiiL"; schot)ls 
and then s^'cLtin^- pri\ate examinations: and one ol" 
the teachers who failed t(j jiass satisfactorily, ex- 
pressed thj sjntinunt of the teachers as well as 
of tile friends ol'the district system. *'\\'hy." said 
s!ic. *'wc ne\er h:i\e thoir^-lit ab:jnt u'cttin;^^ a cer- 
tificate: all wc cared w.is to <iet hired lor a school 
and thj sapjrx'is )r did n')t d ire rePiHJ us a certill- 
catc." Keil nice idci. was it not? and one tend- 
ing to increase the interest and intelligence ol the 
teaching force. 

This swstem of jvahlic examinations had couk'' 
to sta\', howevei-: and, although the supervisor 
who inaugurated the same was condemned on 
all side-;. b\- frie vis as well as enemies, yet the 
good results that i'ollowed its adoption is ample 
satisfaction to him. as it lias been tlie nuans of 
having better teachers, antl consequently, better 
schools. 

'idle tea.iiing force of these years was Misses 
ICstelled Ketchum, lua Johnston, l-'rankie l'\irrell. 
S idie v. Ilo\t. Liilie Hopkins, Kmma Slocomb, 
Ro^e 11 iley, Kate Haley, Mary Belyea. etc. 

At the annual meeting of iNSi. Re\ . Hudson 
Sa\v\er. rector of Si. PauPs ICpiscopnl Church, was 
I'lected super\isor: and being in a.-ciMcl with the 
pt'MKipal of the hinh sj!n)ol. Mr. Martin. \;irior^ 



234 HISTORY OF FOIIT FAIR]'11:L1), 

methods were adopted to aid the teachers in their 
work, AmonLi; the different things inauj^iirated 
were tiie teachers' meetings, to which all the teach- 
ers in town were invited, and given an opportunity 
to state their phms and methods, as well as to 
listen to the experience of others. 

These meetings were a n eritable norm:il school 
department, and nearl\- e\ cry one entered into the 
work with zeal, realizing that lasting benetit would 
result Irom a continuance of the communication of 
ideas. 

The following \ ear, Re\", }\lv. Saw\er recom- 
mended in his annual report: '"First e\ erN' district 
should be supplied with wall maps. vSeeond. dis- 
sol\e the s\stem and adopt the town plan. Third, 
\ (;te nrjne\' for \'our free high sclrx;!."" 

The legislature of i8Sr had renewed the act re- 
lating tv; the maintainaiice of free higli schools, 
and the town willingi\- and eagerl\- \oted a sam ol 
mone\' for its support. The darkness that had 
iu:ng over the educational work ol' tlie zealous 
teachei's and parents ibr many \ears had became 
unbearable; and bN' the united efforts of these 
workers, a rav of light shone across the horizon, 
which, at the annual meeting in 181S2, burst forth 
in [in effulgerit ikime whose ghire almost dazzled 
the eyes of those honored and devoted s::ekers lor 
better school acc<mmodalions, :.s the town \ oted 
to abolish that i-elic (.f b\-gone da\s, the "disLrijt 



Ill.slORV Ol' l-OKT FAIRFIELD. 



-.)D 



system." and to adopt the "town plan." which cv- 
c"r\- true friend ol" eLlacation lelt and knew would 
carr\- blessings untold to the rising- ii-cneration ; and 
the results predicted have been more than verihed 
during- the lew years that have passed since tlie 

chaniic. 

Too much praise cannot be ^iven Re\ . Hudson 
S.iwxer for his untirino- efforts for the abolition ol 
the district s\stem, and his business-like methods 
in conducting- the schools ol" the town. To his sa- 
gacity and zeal are dr.e, in a great measure, the 
r.ipid dexelopment of school property: and the 
pupils oi to-da\- ha\e them to thank that they are 
housed in comfortable rooms with apparatus 
worthy of the natne: and when after three yi-ars 
ofpatient toik Re\ . Mr. Sawyer se\ ered his con- 
nection with the schools, the town lost a warm 
advocate of ]-)ronressi\e education, as well as a 
wortlu' citi/en. 

During the manaii-emcnt of affairs under the su- 
per\ ision of Re\ . Mr. Sawyer ami the lollowiuLi- 
sjhool ollicials.— k\ P. (irant, II. O. IVrry. 11. L'. 
Townscnd and A. D. Sawyer,— the school proper- 
t\- had assumed such ui^antic )-.roportions that the 
report of 1SS9 reads like a chapter from Arabian 
Nights, and trulv the wand of the ma-ician had 
waved o\ er the town. 

••We ha\e now twenty-six sch(»olhouses, six 
more than Prestp.ie Isle and live mon- than C'.iri- 



-'.u> 



IIJSI7)RV OF FOI.'T FAIRFIKLI). 



boil/'- Nearly evciT one is supplied with wall 
maps, charts, blackboards, dictionaries, books oT 
reference, impro\ed seats and desks and commod- 
ious out-buildings. The value of school propert\- 
is estimated to be $1,200, number of scholars one 
thousand one hundred and se\ent\-, and a school 
fund of v$5.229, — a showing in which an\' town 
may well feel just pride, and which places this 
town among the foremost in the State. 

From i<S77 to 1S87, the free high school was un- 
der the instruction ofX. II. ?»Iartin, B. S., with R. 
B. Burns, B. L\ E., ?^Iiss E. G. Ketchum, Miss 
.'Mice Knowland, ^Nliss Isa V.. IIar\e\- and ?vliss 
INIvrtle L. Ketchum as assistants. 

These schools were well attended, and man\- 
teachers here received their education; and the 
high staraling (A' the school and qi;alit\' of insti'uc- 
tion is too well known to make but a passing com- 
ment iVom the report of iSSj. "Of the qualit\- of 
instruction, it is needless to speak. Mr. Martin's 
supei'ior abihtx in classification, enables him to ac- 
complish commendable I'esults." And the assist- 
ants were no less worth\- ol praise, not onl\" lor 
their untiring efforts lor the welfare of the school, 
but also for their erudition and methods of im- 
parting the principles ol" knowledge to those under 
their care. 

In h\'bruar\-, 18(85, the schoolhouse was burned, 
and b\' the c()urtse\- of Mi'. Ilacker. the school was 
held in Memorial Hall. 



IIIS'I'ONV ()!•■ i-()IM' I'AlIil'IRLn. 



^M 



L-.iter 111 the sj.ison thj town h;iil w .i^ ilttccl up, 
and in conjunction with tlic liall above, was used 
l"()r seliool purposes, wnei^e the scholars alternate- 
1\- I'ro/e and thawed durini;- tlie lon^- weary win- 
ters. 

.Vt tlie annual meeting- in iS.^;, ilic town voted 
to establish a hioh school with a course ot study, 
and also \oted to build a new house to accomni >- 
date the needs of the increasinn- number of scholars. 

The sehoolhouse was completed in season to 
have the fall term taught therein, and the same 
was conducted hv Chas. A. A\^ishburn. with Miss 
M\rtle L. Ketchum assistant, 

The sehool building', both in dcsiii,'n of architec- 
ture and workmanship, rcllect very little credit to 
eithei" the town oi" parties interested in its erection, 
and show.s j-)lainl\- that it is the dut\- of the town, 
when larLie sums of mone\" are to be expended, to 
see that men aie chosen to superintend the e\- 
jUMKlitures that h:ne some knowledn'c ol' the busi- 
ness. 

The te.tehers at this peiiod compiised Misses 
Alice Whilnex. Isa V.. II;ii\e\. M\ille L. Ketchum. 
Alice Ilalew Jane lialew Annie ). l>ishop. l-Hor.! 
K.ickliri'. >'ir."!l. W. Tr.iftcn. L'. L'. 1 l.irvey. M. 
N. 1 )ie\\ . etc. 

Al'lei' the expir.Uion of the sjirinu' term of iSSS, 
Mr. W'm. L. Poweis was enii'aiied as jiiincipal ol 
the hiuh --ehool. with Miss Kate W'inslow ;i^ as^^ist- 



2T^S HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

.'lilt; and in 1891 the first class <^Taclaated, consist- 
ing' of ttic lollowini;,": Misses Lulu M. Condon, 
flattie E. Hopkins, Cordie M. Kino-. Mr. I). Mc- 
Pherson Ilanew jerre II. Libbv and Sterling Fes- 
senden. Of the under<2,raduates there were eiii'htv- 
nine in attendance, with ten ]')u]")ils in tlie lirst class. 

Dr. A. D. SawNcr had charo-e of the schools of 
the town as supervisor, and marked proii;ress was 
made in all departments ol'school work tlirouiihout 
the town. The hii;h school, under the manaii'C- 
ment of Mr. Powers, a teacher ofexceptional qu;.d- 
ihcation, with a corps of able assistants, made exen 
better pro^-ress than the most saniiaiine had ex- 
pected, and placed the school amon<.>; the foremost 
of its kind in the State. 

The town Noted in 1891 to purchase text books 
lor the use of scholars, which addctl largeb' to the 
ii,"rand results achie\ed hv the teachers and super- 
visors. 

At the present v>riting. II. F. Kallock has ciiarii;e 
of the hioh school, with r^lisses M. F. Merrill and 
Flora Rackliff as assistants; and under his able 
manag-ement the school is still held up to the stan- 
dard of excellence that it has maintained for the 
past years, and the teachers i'ulh' sustain the en\ i- 
able record ol their predecessors, under the care 
of II. \\\ 'i'rafton, the present superxisor. 

To sum up: from a feeble beginnina, with few 
scholars, scant means and more ii>norance, the 



IIISTOKV OF FOIIT rAIRFIi:!.!). 



^.^9 



schools of the town h:nc risen from tlic lou' cabin 
to tlic pretentions editice which adorns the pau'c ol" 
this book. 

All praise to tliose who were zealous in the work 
and instrumental in brin<j,in<4' about tb.e urand and 
lastiuii" results recorded in this history of the 
schools oi" I'^ort I-'airfield. 



240 HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 



CIIAPTKR XXXI!. 

CIU RC'IIFS. 
I'OKT FAIRFIKLH CONCiRFGA'I'lON A L CllL"li.ell. 

Owin^" to the p;iucit\' of the records, it is not 
j^ossible to i^'iNe ;i full and eonneel.'l histor\- ol this 
church. 

C"o\"erinii- as it does a period of half a centur\-, 
and thus rea^'hini^" far back to the \er\- l)eii'innint;-s of 
or^'anized Christian work in Xortheiai Aroostook, 
its founders and promoters .slrugi^-lino' amidst the 
adverse circumstances wliich are the certain con- 
comitants oTpioneer lile, did n(;t fidly estimate the 
\alue to succeediuL;' ii'cnerations of a full and con- 
nected record. 'I'he lollowinii;, while In' no means 
a fidh is lielie\ed t:) be a correct history, though 
certain dates are i-ather indefinite. 

'I'his cliurch was oriiani/ed in what was then 
Letter 1), now h^)rt I'airlaeld, in tlie loi^" house of 
JvJward S. l"\)wlei-. on the (Sth da\- ol' October, 
1S44. 

The original members were the, \iz: Edward S. 
Fowler, Mar\- b\)wler, Iliram Ste\eivs. Caleb H. 
Ivllis and Susan Ellis. 




DEA. HIRAM STEVENS. 



HISTORY OF rORT FAIRFl KLD. 



^43 



It is somewhat remarkable that after the lapse 
ot" half a century, two of these five original mem- 
bers. — Deacon Ilir.mi Stevens of tliis town and 
Caleb II. Ellis, the author ol" this book. — are still 
living, although the latter, man\- \ears ago, severed 
his connection with this church, and united with 
the Methodists. 

The organizing council was composed of Re\ . 
Wm. T. Saxage and Mr. Xathanael (j. Treat of 
Iloulton, Re\-. h^r.incis P. Smith ol' Mcjnticello and 
Re\. Josiah (J. Merrill, missionar\- on the field, also 
Rev. John ICaton, agent ofthe American Tiact .So- 
ciety. Re\ . 1. (i. Merrill was chosen uKjderator, 
and Re\ . Win. T. Sa\age scribe of the council. 
The f(.)llo\\ ing is iIk- (;rdcr of services a.s trans- 
ci'ibed Irom the records: 

"Reading olluinn, pra\cr and reading of Scriji- 
tures by Re\ . V. \\ Smith; calling the names, and 
baptism of Susan I'.llis, reading t)f the Articles oi' 
Faith and Covenant, and recei\ing the assent ol" 
the j")roposed members, hv Re\ . A\'m. T. Saxage; 
prayer consecrating the church ami setting apart 
Edward S. b\.)wler to the otfice of deacon, accortl- 
ing to previous election. In- Re\ . J. (i. Merrill; fel- 
lowship oi' the church h\ Re\ . John r>aton ; com- 
munion service b\ Rr\ . Me-ssrs. Sa\age and Mer- 
rill; benediction b\ Rc\ . ). (1. Merrill." 

It is e.xceedingh- interesting to read the doings 
of that little compan\- ol" disciples, as there, in the 



244 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

kiichen of that rude domicle, in the midst of the 
''forest primeval," the}' reverently and solemnly 
laid the foundation of this church and consecrated 
it to Almighty God. I cannot forbear inserting 
here the following extract from the sermon of Rev. 
Stac}- Fowler, preached at the dedication of the 
first house of worship at Fort Fairheld village in 
1874. Rev. Stac}' Fowler was the son of Deacon 
Edward S. Fowler, in whose house thirty years 
before the church had been organized, and was at 
the time a 3'oung lad. 

After referring to the "change and progress of 
thirt}- years," as also to the fact that "other hands 
hold the plough and other brains throb with the 
living issues of the times,'' — the preacher said: 

"But there are other and more cherished mem- 
ories. The organization of this church in the cab- 
in of my earl}- home at Maple Grove, thirt}' years 
ago the 8th of next October, is one of the sweetest 
and most inspiring memories of my life. 

"As if in benediction, the magniticant birch- 
es and maples of that primitive forest stretched 
their autumn crowned arms over the cabin and 
over the council. As if acting the part of a church 
spire, an evergreen spruce lifted its emerald tip a 
hundred and twent}- feet into the skv. 

"In the night the council beheld the stars shin- 
ing through the roof of the rude dcmicle. Miiy 
we not believe that those stars s\ mbolized the eves 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 245 



of God who looked down approvinol}' upon their 
doini^sr A}-, were they not prophetic, too, of that 
benign Providence who has been the guiding star — 
the pilhir of cloud and of fire — to this handful of 
disciples in all their 3ears of feebleness and toil? 
Only five believers gathered through the assiduity 
of Father Merrill, whom Dr. Gillett, then secreta- 
ry of the Maine Missionary Societ}-, sent hither to 
find any scattered sheep of our Israel in this wil- 
derness — only five, three males and two females, 
then were the germinated life of this church. Fa- 
ther Merrill has just gone in a ripe old age to his 
reward. But the church which he was instrumen- 
tal in planting still lives, and will continue to live 
to bless the communitw 

''Verily God has blessed you. His banner over 
you has been, and is, love. He who began to plant 
3'ou has made you full of growing." 

It is impossible for us to realize the dilTiculties 
and hardships which those early missionaries had 
to encounter, as following the courses of the 
streams or the ''spotted lines" through the unbrok- 
en forests, thev went from place to place in their 
eagerness to break the "bread ol" life" to the lani- 
ishing people. Trulv the}' "rest from their labors, 
and their works do follow them.'' 

Founded in weakness, holding their meetings 
from house to house, without regular or stated 
preaching, depending upon an occasional visit from 



246 HISTORY OF FOET FAIRFIELD. 



Father Merrill or some other missionary laboring in 
this wild, uncultivated held, — it is little wonder that 
their growth should have been slow, and that at 
the close of the first quarter of a century of its ex- 
istence the little church numbered scarcely <i score 
of members. 

But brighter da3-s and better things were in store 
for them. With the clearing away of the forest 
and the settlement of the neighborhood, came other 
Christians, both of their own and other denomina- 
tions, among whom there seems to have been the 
most friendly spirit. 

After worshipping in schoolhouses for some 
years, feeling that other and better accommodations 
were needed, and that the time had come for 
building a "meeting house,"' in about 1856, in con- 
nection with the Methodists, the Free Baptists and 
the Baptists, the first house of worship, known as 
the ''Union House,'' was built. 

Here the\' continued to worship, occupying the 
house their proportional part of the time, for a 
period of ten or twelve years, at the end of which 
time the place of worship was transferred to the 
village. 

In the year 1852, the Maine Missionary Society 
sent Rev. E. Knight, who continued to be their 
"acting pastor ' for about fifteen 3-ears, after which 
the church was supplied with preaching by Rev. 
Mr. Austin, acting pastor of the church at Presque 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 247 

Isle, and others, until the coming of Re\'. W. T. 
Sleeper, in 1S72, who remained about three years. 

It was during his pastorate that the first house 
of worship at the village was built, haxiug been 
dedicated on the 24th da\- of May, 1S74. 

This building was erected at the cost of about 
$3000, including the lot and furniture. The dedi- 
cation sermon was preached bv Rev. Stacy Fowler, 
(relerence to which has alread\- been made) and 
the dedicatory prayer was made by the pastor, Rev. 
W. T. Sleeper. At this time the number of com- 
municants had increased to about fortw 

The next acting pastor was Rev. Mr. Wheel- 
wright, who remained about two vears, and was 
succeeded bv Rev. Ebenezer Bean, who was acting- 
pastor from Januar\', 1876 to January, 1S77. He 
was followed hv Rev. Charles Sinnett. who re- 
mained for about three \ears, and in turn was suc- 
ceeded b\- Re\-. E. P. Eastman in 18S2, In 1886, 
Rev. D. Osgood became acting pastor, remaining 
until September, 1888. In November, 1888, the 
church engaged Mr. G. B. Ilescock of Monson, 
Maine, tosuppl\- their inil)')it ior an iiidetinile time, 
with the view of his becoming their pastor, should 
the relations thus formed prove to be mutually 
satisfactory. Such being the case, he was ordained 
to the gospel ministrv, and installed pastor of the 
church on the 28th da\" of March, 1889, and is the 
present pastor. 



24S HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

The membership had then increased to a little 
more than tifty. The whole number of names en- 
rolled since the orojanization of the church is one 
hundred and sixty-eight, and the present member- 
ship is one hundred and twelve. 

In 1 89 1, the church becoming aware that they 
must either enlarge their house of worship or build 
a new one, lor many good reasons decided to do 
the latter. Accordingly, the old building and lot 
was sold, a new site chosen, and the present house 
of worship erected and dedicated on the 6th day of 
October, 1892. 

The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. C. 
G. McCuIly of Calais, Maine, and the dedicatory 
pra3-er was made by the pastor. 

The building was erected at a cost of about 
$7,000. 

The lot, furnaces, electric lighting, organ, pulpit 
suite, carpets, pew cushions, vestry settees, etc., 
cost about $2,000 making the entire cost not far 
trom $9,000. The building is modern in its ap- 
pointments, very convenient in use, and is regard- 
ed by all as among the neatest and tastiest of coun- 
try churches. 



HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 249 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

CHURCHES. 
THE >nvTHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The soldiers had barely taken possession of the 
disputed territory, before the itinerant minister was 
upon the oround. The Rev. John G. Pingree of 
the Methodist Episeopal Cluireh, eame by the way 
of the upper Aroostook road, in the summer ol 
1839, and his mission or eircuit, extended from 
M.xs.ardis to the boundary line. Vpoa his arrival 
at the Fort he was kindly reeeived by the offieers, 
and liberally paid. A home was provided for him 
at Mr. Nathan Johnston's. Mrs. Johnston was a 
devout :^Ieth()d'ist, holdin<,r her membership in 
Frederiekton, X. B. He eontinued to visit the 
Fort and preaeh to the people throui^di the year. 

The Ibllowintx letter reeeived by Dr. I>arker, 
the present pastor ol" the churcii, will -'ive an idea 
of the lifelong- interest ofa laithful "circuit preaeh- 
er'' in the field he has occupied; containing as it 
docs, incidents of interest from life in those early 
davs : 



250 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

'"Dundee, III, July 24, 1893. 
''Dear Brolhcr:— 

It is true that I am not acquainted with you per- 
sonally, but I almost claim acquaintance from the 
fact that I am a Methodist preacher, though a su- 
perannuate of the Wisconsin conference, and that 
^'ou now occupy the same field that 1 broke up in 
1839-40. For some incidents and illustrations of 
ni}- work see ''Maine Methodism, "(E;\st Maine) pp. 
68-99. I will sav some things additional, and hope 
to recei\e a letter from you giving a description 
of how things are now. I suppose that I am the 
only living minister that occupied that mission 
ground in those earh' times. 

"I presume that few are now li\ing at the Fort 
who knew me o\er fifty s'ears ao'o. Should 
there be an\', I would be glad to have a letter from 
them. 

"In August, 1839, ^ niade my way by water from 
No. 10 (Masardis) to the Fort, called on the cap- 
tain, introduced nnself as a Methodist mis- 
sionar\', and was kindly received and invited to 
preach in the Fort the following Sabbath; and 
knowing the condition of the settlement, he wisely 
selected me a boarding place during my short stay 
in the place. I preached to the soldiers, and at the 
.dose of the meeting, the captain invited me to stop 
and preach luiother Sabbath, which I did, and earl}- 
Monday morning the quartermarster came to my 




HON. HENRY O. PERRY. 



HISroKV OF 1-C)K 1 lAIl'JMi:!-!). 



-5.^ 



loclirinLi's and presented me with Aioas a present 
Ironi the olheers and soldiers. 

1 was \ er\ iihid of this board arranL^enient. as 
there were lew laniiliL'S where il would be eon- 
\ enient l\)i' me to lod^e, and tiien it n"a\ e me a 
i^'ood ()pj)orlunit\ to \ isit all the families in the 
]")lace, and to asjerlain the true eondition of the 
people. I staveil at Mr. and Mrs. Xathan ](jhn- 
ston's, residing- about half a mile down the ri\er 
iVom tlie l'^)rL. M\- hostess was a hiLi'hU' eultureil 
lad\' ofSjoteh de-^jent, a u,'ood ^Iethodist. holdinn' 
her m.-mbershin in I*"redeiiekton, N. !>. 1 think 
the\' had no ehildren, if so the l'amil\' has probab- 
1\" beeome extinet, but if an\- olthe famil\' are li\- 
inn" and remember mj, hcjpj the\' will write n\j. 

"\ lelt that under the cireumstances I could not 
do much for the place, thouiih I ):)ieaehed there 
occasion:dI\' and did what I could. Aside iVom 
the soldiers there were no .Vmericans in the place, 
but all from the Pro\ince, the most ol" whom I 
could not reach. 

"Now I would like to know what bcc.ime ol' 
these old settlers? Did the\' become American- 
ized, or did the\' move awa\"r Is the chief settle- 
ment around the old I'ort ' Where is our church 
and i">.ir.-«onaL;"e located? 1 can hartllv thiid< ol the 
place only as 1 saw it more than i"ift\- years ago. 
O. how glad 1 would be to ^■isit the old Aroostook 
mi-sion pro\inci before I die. nnd see witli m\-cwn 



254 HISTORY OF FOKT FAIRFIELD. 

eyes what God has wrought! But this can never 
be, for I am more than eight\- ^■cars old, partially 
blind, \cvy feeble, and patiently v/aiting for the 
Master, but all is well. 

"Ma}' I not expect a letter from n'ou in answer 
to this? Sometimes I almost t'ancv nnself work- 
ing with might and main hu'ing the foundation of 
Methodism in that interesting tield. Good b}e. 

Yours trulw 

J. G. PlXGREE." 

We are dependent upon such information as Dr. 
Barker has been able to obtain from the oldest 
members of the church, as the church re-;{)rds are 
\cvv meagre, and of little use in making up history. 

The Rev. Mr. Hatch put in an appearance, pos- 
sibly on horseback, probablv on foot. It was the 
custom in those days for ministers to make long 
journe\"s, \ isiting from hoise to house. The hos- 
pitalit\- was open handed; in many a lo >' lu is^» 
there was a prophets chamber — ^^possibly up under 
the roof a little nearer the star w-)rld t:i,t i down 
below. 

r^ike Lorenzo Dow, the'\' cam2 from nowhere, 
left word aroun \ that there woul \ be prea :'ii v •, — it 
jNIr. Nathan |ohns'on\> th.it .ve ing; it w s noise 1 
about, and a houscl'ul of earnest listeners greeted 
the preacher. Rev. Mr. Hatch's circiit extended 
as I'ar as Ashland, with appoifttme.its at Caribo i 
and Salmon Brook, and we t'^.ink ;it other | L.ces. 



IIISTORV OF FOlrr rAIRFILLi). 2^^:^ 



In 1842 and 43, Ephraim II. Whitney, whose fa- 
ther liad located in this township, made iiis home 
at his father's, but hd'jored prineipally in Prescp.ie 
Isle. Re\ . Alphonso Rogers was that year ap- 
]-)()inted to the >:Vroostook mission, and the follow- 
ing }ear men ed his family to Letter D, and he be- 
came the first settled minister, and received a grant 
of a lot of land from t'le State, bv reason of that 
iaet. Brother Rogers remained upon his larni for 
sexeral \ears, and though appointments were made 
to the mission, he aKva\s found work, and was in 
demand for weddings, funerals, and to supply when 
the appointed minister failed to put in an appear- 
ance. 

In 1845. Rc\ . True Page .Vdams was appointed 
to the circuit, lie was a dexoted. fiithful minis- 
ter, and being a \()ung man was able to exert a 
strong inlluence, alwa\s for good, o\'er the \(/ung 
people, while he was greath beloved In the older 
members of the church. lie did a good work for 
the church and societw and his name was \~'\^'J:, 
held in remembrance. 

Brother Adams was followed b\- Re\". Ik-njamin 
Lufkin. who was noted for his dexout pietv, devo- 
tion to itinerant work, and for his oddities and ex- 
treme awkwardness. Stoi')ping o\ er night with an 
inlluential Methodist famil\, in the nior.iing the 
j'ood man of the Ikuisc showed Hro. Lufkin his 
stock, antl iIkii matle his wa\' to the log hor.so 



:;6 HISTORY OF FOlIT FAIRFIELD. 



where he had some very fine porkers. After tak- 
ino- a look at them, he turned to his host and said: 
"Bro. L — , do \(>u think you are grow- 
ing in ii'race as fast as that ho^- is in si/er" With 
a long drawn sioh, Bro. L — replied, ''I fear I am 
not,'' to whieh Bro. Lufkin replied. "Bro. L — . 1 
should he ashamed to be ()iitd;)ne by a hoi;-! ' 

It was with sueh home thrusts that the ii;ood man 
mo\ed a; 'ono- the people, with words ol truth 
arousini;- the indifferent, stirrini;" up the lukewarm, 
and brin^'Uii' jo\' and gladness to the bjlieNini:,- 
heart. 

I lis personal appearance was decidedly ai^viinst 
him. lie was six feet four inches in his stocking's; 
his speech was \er\- abrupt, and first impressions 
were alwaNS against him, but he made earnest and 
de\()ted friends of old and young. He was the 
greatest revi\alist that \ isited the Aroostook in 
those da\s. lie spent two u.seful years upon the 
.\roostook mission, 

.Vfter lea\ing the Aroostook, he went to tb.e 
western part of the State, where he married a wife 
much like himself in peisonal appearance and de- 
votion to the ?\Iaster's work. lie was a faithl'ul 
and respected member of the Maine conference of 
the r^Iethodist Episcopal Church. He hnished his 
work, and was called up higher se\eral years ago. 

Kendrick A. Meser\ y spent one or two years 
upon the circuit. He came in the tirst \ears ol his 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 257 



niinistrw and liacl hut little experience, but he 
pr()\ eel a raithfuh dexoted pastor, and chd Li'ood 
work I'or the Master. 

At the bi-eakiuLi' out ol' the war, he offered his 
ser\iees as eliaphnn of the loth ?^Iaine Regiment, 
and was elected, lie pro\ed a faithlul, de\'oted 
chaplain, and hv precept and example did all he 
could to lead the soldiers to prepare for their duty 
to their country and their (jod. AXHien death came 
it lound him with his 'jomrades at the Soldiei-s" 
Home, near Au<i,aista, ]\Iaine, 

Rev. l)ro. Stanchlield and Rev. Bro. llartlord 
l"aithfull\- served tlie char^'e. Of those times tlie 
l^resent pastor, Re\. Dr. Barker, sa\s: "When the 
presidinn" elder, who li\"ed at Banu,-or, wished lor 
plent\- of air and hilarious exercise, he started for 
.\i"oost()ok. lie came up in n'ood st\le, and foi- 
three da\s and nights he poured foith red hot ser- 
liions, the jieojile comiiiL:; Irom all parts of the cir- 
cuit, and in all sorts of con\e\ances. and made a 
biLitime anion^" the Methodists upon these (piarter- 
l\' meeting; occasions. We dare to ask. win, () 
\vh\-, do the\" not do so now? 

"•Now. he conu■^ w iun the steejih' hell rin^s out 
its last chime, occupies the pastor's spare bed one 
ni^ht, drinks [\\^ his breakfast coffee the next 
mornin:^-. ami is ^onc. — alas, alas I'" 

In i-"^5,^ and '54. tlie Re\ . Thomas L'ookson was 
ajipointed to the charge, and did faithful and sue- 



258 HISTORY OF FOtlT FAIRFIELD. 

ccssful work. lie was an earnest and sueeessful 
minister, and was the tirst minister to oeeupv the 
new parsonau,v. which was built ]argel\' throiig'h 
the Hovt intiuence, which was ver\- strong in the 
eluirch at that day. It was built on what was then 
known as the \\ hitne\" farm, now owned by ^Ir. 
Stephen Averill, near the home of >Mr. Levi Iloyt. 

The mission was sueeessfully and faithfully 
ser\ed by Bros. wSoule, Hartford, Iluekins, and in 
the absence oi' a regular Methodist supply, Re^■. 
Bro. Pitcher, a Christian minister, preached to them 
with great acceptabilitw ]>ros. Wm. P. Ray, Tree- 
win and Whitnev were appointed to the c.iarge. 

In iSSo, the presiding elder in his report to eon- 
jerence, said, "at Fort Fairheld a church enterprise 
has been inaugurated. The building is begun, but 
not far advanced. It is a promising tield and at an 
important poir't, and we earnestlv hope the church 
will be built."' The next year in his report he . 
said, "the church at Fort f^airheld is being pushed 
toward completion. It will be an attraeti\e church 
when done; it is wisel\- located and will be a strong 
point for Methodism in the Aroostook valley. ' 

In conclusion we gi\e the following hist(jrical 
reflections from the ]-)resent pastor. 

'•'"Well! it was completed, and its white tower 
and its spire is a landmark, as the weary traveler 
croxN'us the side hills and descends intotlie Aallc}-, 
or glancing Irom the car window, taking advantage 



HISTORY OF FOUT FAIRFIELD. 259 



of a curve, as one approaches by tram. Us bell 
rinos out -ood cheer for all who come to its ser- 
vices: like every church, deaths and removals 
have done their work ol' decimation. But xve are 
satished that il" she is true to her past antecedents, 
she will not in any wise compromise with sin. U 
upon the bells of" th.> aNcragc Aroostojk farmer's 
horses, you can in future days spell out the old pro- 
phetic utterance— 'Holiness to the Lord,' we are 
sure that the Methodist Episcopal Church will 
stand firm-rrownin- upon all shams, and makin- 
herself I'elt as a power a--ainst rum and narcotics; 
true to (lod, and oppc.sinu- all time servino- policy. 
She will he an openino- gateway for the future 
o-caerations iat ) G.)d's beautie.d Heavenly home."' 
" Followin- 1V-... Avkr. .n came Hro. Skinner, 
^v!l0 remained on the char-e three years. Brother 
Price followed. He it was that conceived the idea 
of havino- the present parsonajj,e rooms llnished be- 
neath the audien.e room of the chi rch, so that, as 
our present .genial presidin.-- elder sa\ s,— '"'1 he pas- 
tor and family lilerally 'dwell in the lua-a- ..T tl-.e 

Lord forever.'" r , 1 ^ 

Honorable mention mist be made ot the late 
pastors wh') labored faithfi llv in this iield,— 1 ros. 
Withee, Luce and Bass, and in c](-sin!«- this chap- 
ter of our histjrv, we hail with kindly -reetin-s all 
who are laborino- to establish truth and ri.uhteous- 
iio.ss in our midit, and with the old apostle at Apn 
I'oreaii, "thank Cnn\ and take coura-e. 



26o HISTORY OF FOllT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

C- III" R I' 1 1 1':S COXTI XL' FD. 

TIIF J^PlSCOPAf, CHI RCH. 

In the \c;ir I'Soj the Rc\ crcnd l)i-. llciirx .\. 
Ncclv. of New York city. Avas ccr. sec rated bishop 
of Maine to succeed the Rij^ht Reverend George 
Burgess, who h.ad died during the \ear previous. 
The new bishop establislied his residence ai Port- 
land, and entered at once zealoiish- upon liis work. 
Upon a liastv survey of his diocese, he was struck 
with the evidences of rapid growth and future 
prosperity of Aroostook count\', and he deter- 
mined to make an effort to plant the church there 
wlien {)pportunit\- should present itself, ^Iv. Wn^. 
II. Washburn, a retired sea captain, — having been 
attached to the chu.rch, first by her beautiful lit- 
urg\' — at th.is juncture, applied to Bishop Ncely, 
and announced his desire to enter the ministry cf 
the Episcopal Church.. .\s soon as Mr. W;ish- 
burn had complied with the canons governing 
such case?, he v/as admitted a candidate for hoi}* 
orders, and sent to Aroostook. 




HON. W E. PARSONS. 



HISTORY OF FOK T iAlRili:LU. 



263 



Lcaviii- l):in,--()rlK' tlro\ c north, aiul \ i^ilccl ^c\- 
eral Aroostook towns, and rctnriK-cl, rcportin.-- the 
rc.>ak (»riiis trip to his diocesan. A second trip 
was m:idc. the bishop aecoinpanyin,^ him. and ser- 
vices were lie Id at Ashhmd and some other point>. 
At one <>t these services the bishop made the 
acquaintance ol Mr. Isaac Hacker, by whom he 
was uro-cd to visit Fort Fairfield, and h<dd service. 
It v/asa-Tced that on his way back he would stop 
at the Fort as desired. lu the meantime Mr. 
Ikuker reliirned. and m ide all necessary arrange- 
ments for tlie service, and the bishop upon his 
arrival paid a visit U> the sin.uin.u" school, which 
was tau-ht bv Deacon Small, and there enlisted a 
choir I'or the occasion. There was some hesitation 
in "lindini;- places." but all considered, that v/as a 
verv beany service. Requests were made at all 
points for Ve--ular ministrations, but ihc resources 
of the bishop were so limited that he wa:. unabde 
to maintain more than one missionary in the re- 
..ion. Mr. Wasliburn was therefore stationed here, 
and churches at Presquc Isle, Ashland and Fort 
Fairfield, and the commodious rectory at the last 
named place, are the material evidence of his zeal. 
Mr. Washburn entered upon his labors at once, 
and missions were or-anized at Ashland first, then 
at Vovt Fairtield. Tii. da- of the latter was 
April 21st, and the ofliccrs firr. appjintcd wei-e 
|. B. Trafron, v.-ardc:^: J. F. Ha:kc:-, trca:urcr; C 



264 IIISTORV or FORT FAIRFIELD. 

C. Pattee, parish clerk. Mr. Washburn hiborcd 
assiduoiislv, ministering to the needs of his scattered 
]5eople, maintaining ser\ ices at remote stations, 
travelling hundix'ds of miles in search of funds to 
press forward the eliiirch property, and at tlie 
same time pursning his theological studies. ?\Ir. 
Wasliburn lab:)red Iutc until tlrj spring of 1^77-, 
during which time lie records 'three hun.dred and 
twenty-f )iir baptisms, one hundred and twenty-two 
confirmations, twenty-four marriages and sixty-fi\e 
burials. The aggregate \aliie of the ehm-ch prop- 
ert\- which he left be.iind him was ^15.000, Such 
a record speaks volumes for his /eal and futhful- 
ness. Mr. Washburn left scores of frier ds, but 
no enemies. Of course there v/ere those who dis- 
agreed with him in belief and methods, and thev 
sometimes took pains to have it known. Ma:n' (^f 
our readers will remember the cognomen applied 
to St. }-*aurs Church during its ]')rocess of erection, 
lis variation from the st\le of architecture rs^al 
for schoolhoiisc and meeting liov.ses, earned for it 
the title of "W^ishbui-n's sir.okeliouse." llvA these 
tilings were not serious, and as before remarked, 
tlie Re\'. Mr. W^ashburn is remembered witli re- 
spect and affection hv his friends. 

Tlvj ye irs of his minisLr\- were t'lj s innies'. i.i the 
histor}- of St. laud's mission. Members (,f \ririoi.s 
religious bodies who h.ad hearti^^• co-operated wit'i 
the people of St. Paufs, which r.:.:\: r,d ed t]e e:.!v 



HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRFIELD. 265 



rc--al:ir services in the villa-v, h:i'-l of course with- 
drawn when ni;)ve:-nents tj establish their own 
communions were made. The members thus re- 
duced became disheartened by frequent chano-es in 
their pastoral oNcrsi^ht, with often lon^- inter\;ds 
durin-- which tlie church was closed, and no ser- 
vices held. 

The successors of Mr. Washburn have been as 

follows: 

Rev. R. :M. Edwards, who came to Fort Fairheld 
in March, 1S77; Rev. Hudson Sawyer came in 
1S79; Re\. V. II. Rowse came in the summer of 
iS8^; Re\. W. A. Swan in the autumn of 18S9; 
Rev. I-. M. Wilkins in tS()0. and Re\ . (^eo. Bruce 
Nicholson, 1S92. 

Occasional services have been held durin^- in- 
tervals of vacancy by other clero-ymen and lay 
readers, but those named above are the only ones 
whose ministrations are recorded on the parish 
register. One after another they have succeeded 
to'^the oirice left vacant by Mr. Washburn's remov- 
al, but none have ever yet hlled his jilace. Next 
to him. Mr. Sawver has done as nr.-.ch lor the wel- 
fare of ihe mission as any missionary who has had 
charge. He was not oid\- a dcAoted pari>h priest. 
but he was respected as a citi/en, and entrusted 
with town business of importance. As supervisor 
of schools, he is said to ha\ e done more to increase 
the ethciencv of th.e schools of Fort Fairticld than 



266 III?TORY OF FOrr FAIRFIELD. 

any man who had ever licld tliat post before 
liim. During liis incumbency here he buiit cliureh- 
es at Limestone and \^an Buren, and be^^'an one at 
Caribou. Going from here to Iloulton, he erected 
a beautiful church and rectory. lie is still main- 
taining liis reputation as a builder, a recent report 
stating that six new churches were either in \arious 
stages of completion or else just consccratetl. and 
all due to his energy. 

'^riie Episcopal Church in h^ort Fairticld, as else- 
where in ^NFainc, holds its own with difficulty. The 
deep inhici-itcd prejudice which has long since died 
out in otlier sections of the country, is as strong in 
Maine to-dav as c\er. In the face of that preju- 
dice, with irregularity in services owing to the 
need that ministers should have the care of from 
two to six stations, growth is not to be expected. 
A faithful attempt to pro^•ide the ser\ices and sa- 
craments to those who are entitled to them, is the 
most tiiat ma\- be accomplished. This Bishop 
Neel\- has Caithfulh- tried to do for upv/ards cA' 
twentN--h\e \ears, at a great personal effort and 
expense. The present othcers of St. Paul's Church 
are, — Rev, George Bruce Nicholson, missionary- 
priest; Mr. II. AA^. Trafton. warden: Tvlrs. J. C. 
Rackliff, treasurer; Wr. C. I.. Richards, parish 
clerk. 



HISTORY OF rORT FAIRFIELD. 



iG-j 



CIIAPTKR XXXV. 
cm iuiii:s — Lox'rrxLici'). 
'iiiF, rRi:i: i'.api'ist cnrncii. 
.Vnionii- the carl\- settlers who made their liomcs 
in tliis townsliip, there were quite a number who 
were members oftlie Free T-)aptist C'liurch. but it 
was not until some time in the tll'ties tliat tliey 
were org-ani/ed into a ehuix'h. h^rom tlie first, this 
eliureh lias been earnest in its de\"otion to the 
Master, and has had within its fold a faithful and 
pious membership, The faithful and devoted pas- 
tors, who ha\ e ministered to the sjiiritual wants of 
the people, so far as we ha\ e been able to learn 
theii' names, are the l^e\ . Messrs. Purinnton, Carr, 
Park, Kinr.e\-, Parsons, Winslow, and the present 
pastor, Re\ . (leorire K. Knceland. About 1^75, 
Mr. j-'rederiek I'>llis. who was a member ol this 
communion, was chosen deacon, and laithlully 
served the church, until his death in 1 Sc)(x ?^Ir. 
LaForest Towle. who has been church clerk al- 
most from the lirst. was chosen deacon soon aiter 
Deacon FJlis* death, and at the j^resent time tills 



268 lIISTOkY OF FOl'.T rAlRFlELD. 

both of these important offices in the chnrch. 

This church has constantl\- made its power felt 
in the community: it h.iis attracted true believers 
to its membership, and the young and thoughtless 
to its meetings. Death and removals have been at 
work to reduce its membership, but hv profession 
of faith and hv letter, others have come to fill their 
places, and the work of the Master has been ;id- 
vanccd by their devotion imd raitlil'id li\ ing. Its 
position in regard to all moral a.nd social cjuestiors 
will bear the vScriptnral test. 



HISTORY OV TOUT lAIKFIELD. 



269 



ClIAPTKR XXX\'I. 

eillKtllKS LON'riNL i:!). 

Tin-: KllCilLAR UAPTLST CIILIUH. 

In 1S60, the Rc_i;-iilar Ixiptisls, who had coiiK- to 
number about t\\ent\ -1i\ e. deeidecl to organize 
a . lun-eli in b^)rt b^airfield. The elmrch was o;- 
o-ani/.ed at ihe l^nion meetinii; house, and Dea. 
Daniel Foster and Mr. Jonathan Ilopkinson were 
clu)sen deacons, and W'm. V. liopkinson was elec- 
ted elerk. The Rev. (jeor^^e Ri.^by was then first 
pastor of the church. In the Tall of iN6;^, Mr. 
W. F. Ilopkinson died, and Mr. W. 11. ICstabrook 
was chosen clerk. The second pa.sior was a youni;- 
man whc.se r:air.e we ai^e un;ib!e to learii. '1 h.en 
ih.e K.e\. Mr. ('(jxlar.il senctl ih.e church \ery 
accejUabh'. 'i'hen came th.e Re\ . Mr. XeuL,ent. 
Th.e hist settled pi'.stor w;is the Re\ . J. \\. 1)1 lis. 

Soon alter th.e de:ith ol" Dei. I'oster, in iSSo, I y 
reason r,\ death and remoxals, and the fact that 
(,i!:er ieli<,i(.is sccielics wcie si iflx ir;^" lie jei - 
pie witli tlie preached -word, it was decided that 
i\ V a time, at least, it was ad\:salle r.ct to emplo}- 



2 70 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



another piistor, nor to keep up separate reliuiors 
meetings. .\nd up to the present time, although 
there ;ire several in the town of that faith, there has 
been no eff^ rt to keep up the organization, and 
since the de:ith of Deacons Foster and Ilopkinson, 
no deacons h.aNe been chosen. 




HENRY A. HAINES. 



HISTORY ()!■" I'OR'l' FA 1 R 11 1". I . I). 



-/.•) 



LllAMTKR XXXXII. 

em Rciii:s — c().\ tixl i:i). 

'I'liic so-.iKTv (JF i"i;ii:xi)s. 

Amon^- the carl\' settlers of I'^)rt l'\iiihekl, the 
S()eiet\- of I'^rieiuls were represented. Mary and 
Joseph W'inLi'ate Haines, and their eltlest dau^iiter 
were members ol' that soeietw AlthouLiii far re- 
m()\ ed IVom other members, ihev were not lor- 
o-c)tten, and from time to time were \ isited. and 
meetings were lield in tlieir peiuhborliooch In 
1<S:^<S or '^() a nKnement was started that rcsultetl 
in brin^inLi" se\ eral families ol' that I'ailh into the 
town. William A. Sampson bou_L;-ht the mills eon- 
sistin^- of a saw mill, where the Hryant mill 
now stands, and a shinule mill en a dam a short 
distanee below. 'Hie shhiiile mill was immetliate- 
I\ transformed into a ^rist mill, a eartlinn" maehine 
]-)nt in and steam power introdueeil. 

With him. or soon to lollow, were Thomas 
I'artridue aiul w il'e, Cyrus Estes and wil'e, N'alen- 
tine Kstes ami \\ilV\ lf)nathan Estes and wile, 
loseph Xielv'?^ and wife. William Penn \'arney 



2 74 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

and wife, and AVilliam F. Sampson and wife, and 
with ?^I^, and iNfrs. Ilaincs, made a strong and in- 
fluential soeiety. For the lirst 3'ear meetings were 
regularly held at the house of William A. Samp- 
son, and then for another year at Valentine Estes, 
in tlie neighborhood where Rev. William Venn 
Varney now lives. About that time the meeting 
house was built in the ^Nlaple C7ro\e settlement, 
where they ha\e uninterruptedlv worshiped until 
the present time. The societ\- was fortunatu in 
having among their number Mrs. Sarah Partridge 
(the wife of Thomas Partridge) who was a most 
devout, earnest and eloquent prcaeher. 

The silent worship whieh at an earl^' dav held a 
prominent plaee in their meetings, was madeinter- 
estinL!', and brouij;ht the vouni>' within their inilu- 
ence, bv the devout prayer and earnest exhorta- 
tions of this trulv good woman. The vears in 
whieh the eountr\- had been suffering from the 
tui'moil of war and other eommunities and soeie- 
ties had been experieneing its e\il effeets, were 
^•ears of almost unbroken prosperit\- to this people. 
While William A. Sampson had been aetiNe in 
worldl\- alTairs he did not lose his interest in the 
upbuilding of the soeiet\'. lie was aeti\e and in- 
lluential in the building of the meetinghouse. He 
was an easy and fluent speaker, and with his esti- 
mable wife, lo\ed and respeeted b\"the eommunitw 
With the elose of the war a new lield of labor was 



HISTORY OF FOUT FAIRFIKLD. 



^75 



opened up aiul the eall was su urgent that lie was 
not long in beeoming interested and at work to im- 
proxethe eondition of the Freedmen; this took him 
lust to Washington, 1). C, and then to North 
Carolina, subse(pientl\- he renio\ed to the West, 
then to California, where he died some two }-cars 
ago. In Sarah Partridge, the soeiety had aw in- 
lluenti;il and suceessful worker. In the death ol 
her lu'.sband, with the responsibilit}- and care of 
a laniiK on her hands she eontinucd her la^ A 

second marriage and remoxal to Kennebec, u^r a 
time sexered her relations with the soeiety. But 
death came again to her home, and a second hus- 
band was remoxed; then she returned and spent 
the remainder of her days with her children in this 
town. Other changes came to the society- by 
death and remo\ als. Rev. Wm. Penn Varney be- 
came the head oC the society, and the recognized 
j-ireacher. Additions have been made from time 
to time, and at the present time, it is a moral and 
social power in the community, exerting alike a 
happ}- intluence upon \oung and old. 

At prosc^nt there arc some thirty-five numbers. 
T! ;.ition of worshipers at the Maple 

G:u\ c L irarcii who have been in sy:-.:patliy with the 
jVcu-itN- and devotion of their worship, and ha\ e de- 
jiended very largely upon them for religious in- 
struction and inlluencc, have largely outnumbered 
the membei-s of the ^o;-ic-!\. Of the origin- 



276 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

al members. Rev. AVilliam Penn \"arney and 
wife, Joseph Niehols and wil'e, Jonathan Estes 
;iiul wife, and I.o\ina Estes are \et identified with 
tlie soeietw The moral inlluenee of this s(>eiet\' 
has been a p:)\ver in the ?v[:iple (iroxe settlement. 
In every <;-.UherinLi- of the people, and in all their 
soeial relations it has been at work Cor i^ood. 
l^espeet for its members has exerted a i')owerrnl 
inflnenee upon the \-ounL>; people of that p.irt of 
on.r town; to what extent it has acted upon their 
lixes will n )t be known until tlie final jud^anent. 
As the ajknowled^ed leailer, the (paiet, unob- 
trusi\e exemolar\- life of William Penn \'arne\' 
has eommanded respeet, inspii'ed eonfidenee, and 
been a moral force felt b\- all who ha\e been 
favored with his aecpiaintanee. 

The eomini^- oF that de\'oted band of Friends to 
r\Iaj^!e (iroNe in iSoo marked ari important era- in 
the history of the town, thoaii'h not lar^-eh" pos- 
sessed oF earthlv means, the\' were in comfortable 
circumstances; the\" were industrious and reliable; 
the\' li\ed the reliiiion tlie\' j^rofessed. The\- 
added considerable to the material wealth ui the 
new settlement, and their lixes and works ha\e an 
important place in tk.e hist(;r\- of f^)rt Fairfield. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 277 



CHAPTER XXX\'III. 

niriuiiF.s — loxiiadi:!). 

•iiii: R().\r.\\ eATiioiJc cm lu 11. 

Anionii,- tlic few settlers who had made their 
lionies ah)n<4- the banks of the Aroostook, iiow 
within the limits of Vovt I'^airtield, prior to the 
Aroostook war. were a lew Catholie families. wIkj, 
as did nearl\- all the settlers oi' those da\s. eame 
I'rom the pro\inee of Xew l>runswiek. 

The eoniino oi'the troops, and other moxements 
consequent ui'ion the occupation of the territory 
b\- the State, and creation of employment lor la- 
bor, attracted se\eral h^-ench families, all 0I" whom 
were of this faith, from the upper St. John ri\er: 
and undoubtedh" there were some of the United 
States ren'ulars. who weie cpiaitered here in the 
earl\ forties, who were membeis ol this commun- 
ion. 

j-'i-oiii w iiai can be learned, it appeals ihat in 

iN_|j a subscription was started to build a church. 

which lesulted. in i^»j.v in the erection of a small 

buildinn" on the faini ol Mi'. Txiulier. about one mile 



HISTORY OF Foirr Fairfield. 



above the present village of Fort Fairfield, near 
the ri\er. 

The buikliiig was boarded and shingled, but ad- 
vaneed no farther lor several years. About 1850, 
possibly a little later, a new effort was made. A 
suitable lot was seeured about fi\e miles above 
the \ illage, and the building was taken down and 
removed to the new loeation, where it was put up 
and finished into a neat ehapel, where ser\ices 
were held for man}- >-ears. 

The large increase of population outgrew the 
modest little chapel, and about 1875, work was 
commenced on the present large church in the \\\- 
lage, where a large congregation is gathered at ev- 
ery service. 

We have no means of giving the names of the 
priests who have from time ministered to the spir- 
itual wants of the people. 

^Vlthough man}' of these people ha\e been in 
very humble circumstances, and could do but little 
to siipport religious services, they have not been 
neglected. Clerg\'men from the rsladawaska set- 
tlement. From Iloulton and from New Brunswick, 
ha\e ^•isited them, and administered the sacra- 
ments of the church from time to time, and of late 
years i-egular services have been maintained. 

The Re^crend Father DcMerchand, who re- 
sides at Presque Isle, is the present parish priest 
and is ver}- acceptable to his people. The present 



HISTORY OF Foirr 



^79 



wcaltli, standinfj and inHucnce oi" the church, indi- 
cate that ere](jng tlie society will enjoy the pres- 
ence oI' a priest located in their nTi(1-i 



28o 



HISTORY OF FOUT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

iJL'sixEss :mi:x. 

I'hroii^-h all its history Fort Fairticld has been 
fortunate in the elass of men Avho ha\'e been asso- 
ciated with its business affairs. At the present 
time the mercantile and mechanical business car- 
ried on, ii ^■e^\■ cxiensive, and well conducted. 
?^rr. A. C Car\- stands among the oldest merchants 
in this part of the count\-. lie is the present post- 
master and senior member of the Fort Fairtield 
Ch^thiuL;- CompauN'; associated with him is "Sir. 
Edgar I'hurlow, and his son Mr. (leorge Cary, 
oneofthe popular tra\ellini;; salesmen. Mr. J. F. 
Hacker has grown up in the mercantile business, 
and his business has grown with him. INIr. Hacker 
has been town treasurer for several years, and is 
now president of the Fort Fairfield Xational l>ank, 
and in addition to his extensi\e mercantile busi- 
ness, owns and manages Memorial Hall. ^Iv. 
Hacker is one of the solid men of Aroostook 
count}". 

William Small vS: L"o. The senior member of 



IIISTOKV OF l-OKT T AIK F 1 1:L1). 



^^,^ 



this lirm has been in business lor a \oniX time. He 
is now quite acl\ aneed in years. Se\ eral years a^o 
he a^soeiated with hini^elf, under the ]^-resent iinn 
name, his son-in-hiw. Mr. Ciuirles W. Johnston. 
They earr\- a hirue stoek of general merehandise, 
and a line h)t ofhirniture. Their business is abl\- 
and successfulh- mana^(?d. 

In a.ldition to the Vin't Fairfudd Clothinu" Co., 
Mr. \\'. W. Slojomb *S: Co.. and J. !>. Wil- 
liams cV Cj. earry line assortmjnts of re.idy-made 
elothini>- and ^entlenun's furnisliinu- u-o;)ds. 

Mr. \iJ ). K. Bartlett 6i Co., and I'reneh liros. 
cvrvvA'A e\tM.i\j si ).-k oTdry <^o ).h, and in e.):"!- 
nejlion witli tludr stores. Mi-. M. C. Perry .V C(.., 
aid Miss M. A. Roulston »S: ('•>. are en-a-ed in 
t!ie milliner\ business. These two lines of busi- 
ness \v!ii. h ha\esueh intimate relati(. r,s. are in the 
bjst (A hands. Vov earel'ul and tasty seleeti(ui 
ol" ^■() >ds. for lair a-.d honorable dealings in this, 
as in all other lines of trade, I'ort Fairtield takes 
no baek seat. 

'I'he 1 lardware Inisir.e^sis in the hands of Messrs. 
].. K.C.ov.'v: Co., C. 1). Cults. J. S. Hall and S. K. 
Jc^ett. L. K. Cary cV L':^. earr\ an extensive stoek 
of hirdware, d.))i-.^. s ish. blinds, tinware and a-- 
rieultural implements, and has quite an assortment 
(;f other goods. Mr. C-t:s has a fmc stoek ol" gen- 
oral hardware, sueh as is found in a well stocked 
.store. Mr.. !• ^^\ Hall carries a ger.cral :=.tcck of 



2J54 



HISTORY OF FGirr FAIRFIELD. 



liardwarc, doors, windows, blinds, wa^'on makers 
material, and iron and steel for the local black- 
sniitlis. ]Mr. jewctt is a practical plumber a.nd tin 
worker, carrying- a line (;f stoxes, pr.mps and tube- 
ing, and is at the head of the lire department. 

The grocery trade has assumed a prominent po- 
sition in our village. ?>Ir. II. N. Goodhue has one 
of the linest and best arranged grocery stores north 
(;f Bangor. He has built up a large trade, in fact 
has grown up with his trade. lie was a Fort Fair- 
field bo\-, and is now one of her successful b-'si- 
ncss men. lie belieyes in printer's ink, and is a 
liberal patron of the local press, as are nearly rdl 
o".:r business men. 

Messrs. II. Knight and Co. carry a hne class of 
grcccrics, and arc h.avirg a good trade, and the 
contidcnce of the coriimunitN-. 'Slv. Knight l:as 
liad a long experience, iirst as manager for another 
nizn and since for himself He has his son asso- 
ciated with him. 

Thurlougli llichards & Company have for sev- 
eral N'cars been engaged in this lin.e of trade, an.d 
in addition, have done ;i large ov.t-side trade. 

?.Ir. N. II. TSlartin, in conn.ection with his restau- 
rant, carries a line line of light L-roeeries. 

Mr. F. (). AVellington an.d Alexan.der :McDoug- 
ald are supplying- groccjics to thee people at the 
lovvcr \illage. . 

Hopkins I3rolivei-s, :i eu.t of who^ c ttore appears 



HISTORY OF FOliT I'A! Rl' 1 1- LD. 



2^;. 



in this hisL',>r\. in addition to ihc extensive meat 
market, earries a general line ororojeries. In ad- 
dition t) their village trade thev liave a larue iarm 
two miles IVom town. 

Joseph Pearee, \vhose eiit also appears in this 
history, in addition to a regular meat market, has a 
bakerw and earries a line of groceries. 

Mr. A. V. (Goodhue has the finest jewelry store 
in the eounty, and earries a large and valuable 
stock. He is another of I'^ort l-^airheUrs boys who 
hi^ djveljpjd into a first-class business mm and 
has a large and paying trade. 

Jeffs Brothers are alsi; in the jewelry business, 
and earr\- a \ er\- fme iiiul selected stock of watches 
and sil\ erware. 

Mrs. .v. C. Paul earries a good line of books aiul 
stationerv, together with room paper and millinery 

goods. 

Messrs. Hovey lS: Partridge carry a line line of 
boots and shoes, and both are new men, who have 
been engaged in business here about a \ eai". with 
a good prospect of successful trade. 

Messrs. Cutts ^c Seates have done an extensive 
business in the furniture, carpets, wall paper :ind 
undertakers business. 

Messrs. K. E. Scates cS: Co. ha\ c a large line of 
goods, such as arc usually fou.nd in a lir^L-class 
drug store, and are doing :in extcnsix c business. 



HISTORY OF rOliT FAIRFIELD. 



Palmer & Holmes arc also in the same business, 
with a ii'ood store and a line stock of o-oods. 

The harness trade is represented b\' lour estab- 
lishments, \\A\ J. II. Watt. S. F. Lord, R. E. 
lUirton and (t. B. Churchill. .Ml of these ex- 
perienced workmen turn out i;,"ood work, and a 
lar<i,-e amount ol'it, and descr\e mention for their 
;;,"ood work and honorable dealings. 

The blaeks/'ith trade is well rcj^rcscntcd and 
well patronized in Fort Fairticld. The foUowino- 
se\"cn shops arc alwa\'s found with the tire spark- 
ling iVom the forges, and the sturd\', hard\' smiths 
hard at work. Messrs. |. Peterson, Caleb Bart- 
lett, 11. J. Palmer, C. Roflins, C. L. Smith and R. S. 
Smith, with }. H. (Trav. a practical machinist, 
can turn out almost an\thino- that iron and steel 
can m:ike. and arc gi\ing sread\' cmploxnient to tif- 
tce;i men. 

V\'. A. Haines, at the lower \illage, and A. A. 
II lekenhull, on the Lo\eh- brook, combine the 
: awing of lumber and grinding of grain in their 
mills. The Howe's mill on the north side of the 
river, the cxtcnsi\c Ste\cns Lumber Co., Magill 
I)rothcrs carding and planeing mill and J. B, Rob- 
bins' heading mill, combines all the \illagc mills, 
and all are doing a good business, 

]. N. Sakeforth does .i large business in manu- 
facturing starch anil p )tato barrels, and F. A. 
llewett and J. B. Robbins both are engaged in that 
business. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFH:L1). 



2S7 



Tlic market for custom mndc clothinix '^ ^^'^^^^ 
supplied with the \cry best of ,i;-oods in the latest 
st\-les, b\- ^Fessrs. 'riiomas Winter. 11. r>. Kitk- 
]riti-iek and Thomas (Janible, who are all lirst-elass 
merchant tailors, 

'The ladies interests are well looked after by Mrs. 
R. !•:. Ketchum. Miss Jessie Bartlett. Mrs. Emily 
(iuild. Mrs. Campbell. Mrs. Crummett. Miss Clara 
Roulston. Miss Annie Callahan, and the Misses. 
Mar\ and Belle Ciraham. 

Mr. B. Gathercole and the Ar(K)St{)ok \'alley 
Starch Co. make a ^-ood market for all the small 
j-totatoes within reach. 

In addition to N. 11. Martin's restaurant. Samuel 
Cray. Ilenr\ Oax is. and the Clifton, furnish meals 
at all-hours. 

The Collins House, Mrs. M. i:. Collins proprie- 
t )r, tlie Windsor II iU^e, K. H. Tht)mpv,)n pro- 
prietor, and thcKrvin House. Mr. Krvin proprietor, 
ai-e three as i^ood and commodious hotels as are t<> 
be ibund in the Aroostook \alley. 

There are four larue and well ecpiipped li\er\ 
stables, kept by V. W. lUirns. J. 1>. Williams, K. J. 
D.)rsev and William Maines. 

Messrs. I^ed Osborne. A. 1'. Welch, dciue A. 
I'pton, (ieo. Delano, and b.lmei- Martenus. furnish 
excellent accommntlalions. and tl'sjilay i^real skill 
in the tonsorial art. 

(i. W. I^ichardson decs izood work at cust(;m 



2cS8 HISTORY OF FOllT FAIRFIELD. 

made boots and shoes, and linds Fort Fairtield a 
i^'ood town for this business. 

II. W. Varn.^y li li st.Mm jtdwji- t ) run wood 
work i no- niaeliinerw 

J. G. Raeklifi'. V. C. Fjolster, II. AV. Ebbett, John 
11. Priee ha\"e shops for earpenter aiid carriage 
ni ikino- and repairing-. 

h. K. Holt lias a line steam ]aiindr\% and is 
well patronized and is doing- a prosperous b-iisiness. 

Messrs. W. T. Sullivan, J. G. Cheney, J. C. 
Rackliff, n. r>. Bearisto, S.' D. Beckwith, W. 
Beckwith and J. C. Beckwith, represent the pres- 
ent list of carpenters and builders. 

G. W. Hilton, \^an Knowles, B. Durgin, George 
Delaite, 11. E. Rogers, are the painters and paper 
hangers. 

II. O Perry, trial justice and insurance agent, 

II.AA\ Perry, town clerk, and insurance agent. 

J. \\\'dlace is a popular and experienced photog- 
raphist. 

W. 111. Burpee is the popular dominion express 
agent. 

E. L. Houghton and W. L. Bartlett are en- 
gaged in the real estate business. 

L. X. Richards and A. P. Libbv buy neat stock, 
sheep and horses, and are doing a large and 
growing business. (ieo. E. ('hilds is also en- 
gaged in buying stock, selling carriages and doing 
a <rood business. 



HISTORY or KOUT FAIRFIELD. 



289 



Edward ^V. Poivd is a member of tlu- V\u 
lioom Co.. and a.uciit and general mana-vr on the 
Aroostook waters. 

W. II. Estabrook, coroner and collector oF taxes. 

C;i]t. .\. W. I"itr;m, cV) uty ^l•Al 'fr. 

Sixteen potat ) honsjs are controlled by the lol- 
lowini;- Ibrce of potato buyers, \ix: O. 1^ 'I yler, 
Melvin Caytin^-, James Dorsey, IE Kni-Et c^: Co., 
Thurlouoh Richards ^S: Co. Fisher »S: Osborne, Chas. 
Kimball, CE-o. E. b^)ss, Ransford b^iulkner. l-\ A. 
Wiley, Richard Ehillips, I'hilo Reed, Reuben Thur- 
lo'i^h, 1^. E. IE):i_<;-!u )n. In addition to their own 
time, they .^Ee employment to a regular fcnxe ol 
thirtv-live men, and at times recpaire considei-able 
m jre extra help. Tlic season lor bnyinuand h:;n;'- 
lini;- potatoes extends I'rom September lirst, until 
June lirst, and some years until the middle ofjine. 



290 HISTORY OF rOKT FAIRFIELD. 



CHAPTER XXXX. 
PROi'EssioxAL ;\r::N. — :)R. 1:. (;. DiaKici-j. 
Elbridu'c Cj. Decker was born in Jefferson, 
Lincoln C"ount\-, ?»laine, in I'^^-'J. The common 
school, Unit\- hio-h school and Hampden Academy 
supplied t!ie means ol'a ii,'()od education. Immedi- 
ateh' after arri\ in^' at his majorit\- he commenced 
the stud\' of medicine with Dr. J. (,'. Bradley, (>t' 
Oldtown, attended lectures at the Maine medical 
School, and li-raduated in 1S51. The lolIowiiiL;- 
June he started out for tiie new settlement ol" N(\ 
II (Asliland) and remained there se\en year;-. 
lie then decided to secure a new location, and in 
June i85<S he iiKAcd to the then diminuti\e \illai^e 
of Fort Fairfield, and became the tirst settled 
physician and sur^'eon in the town and w;is the 
onh' one to remain an\" length of time until Dr. 
A. D. Sawver came. His practice extended o^•er 
a vast territor}-, iucludin!^ wliat is now Prcsquc 
Isle, Caribou, Limestone, Easton and Blaine, and 
into the settlement adjoining, in the Province of 
New Brunswick. Bv da\- or bv night, through 



HISTORY OK rOKT FAIKrii:LI>. 



-').^ 



heat or cold, oltcn wilh roads so bad that his horse 
could oiil\- walk, in answci^ to calls, too often fVoni 
those whom he knew were too poor to ]")a\:he faith- 
riill\- dischariied the duties (jT the country jihysi- 
cian, and brought gladness and jo\' to maiiy an 
anxious and stricken household. \\ lu-re sorrow and 
death would ha\ e come w ithout ids timel\- and 
efficient aitl. in i S5 j he bought t!ie IniildinL;- 
upon I'ort Hill, erected b\ the United States 
troops who I'elieN ed the Stite militia in t!ie celebrated 
Aroostook war, aivd since that time has made it 
his home. 

.\t tliat tiuK'. tlie I'ort had been tiem )lishi>d. 
the buildinii'. buill ol" larii-e, square timber, had been 
taken down and sawed into boards at l^attee's mill, 
the stockade enlii-el\- i-emo\ed; but the parapets 
were in a i^'ood state ol j^reser\ alion. 'Idle roads 
were so poor tliat he was oblis^ed to ride 011 hoise- 
li;ick, and tlie most oi' the \\a\ at a \ er\ slow pace, 
into the \aiiou> settlements thei-e w;is only a 
bridlepath, whjre t'le underl.irush was removed 
and the wa\ markeil out b\ spottetl tiees. At 
tinier the roads to i'rcMpie Isle, Carib.ou and the 
St. John rixer wei^e almost impa>.^able. '1 h.e 
nearest mirket w.is BaniiMi', o.k- huntlro.l and sixty- 
seNcp mile^ awa\-, to which shingles were hauled 
and •"supplies" I'or home anil 1 ambei' operations 
brought back. .A trip to Iloulion took three lull 
da\s. if time was taken w hile there to attcr.d to 
Any business. 



294 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

News Irom the outside world, tiiree days old, 
and that received but ouce a week, was the best 
and latest to be obtained. The destitution and 
actual j:>o\ crt\- that too often came to his know- 
ledge while engaged in the duties of his profession, 
were sometimes greater burdens than the fatigue 
of his long and tiresome rides. His diversitied and 
constantly ^■ar^•ing experience was his only re- 
creation, and in a large degree actual practice 
had to supply the place of books. Professional 
privileges were almost entirely conhned to the 
stud\' of medical works, and long and tiresome 
rides. Not until the close of the war of the Re- 
bellion was a semi-weekK' mail established from 
I loulton. 

It was se\ eral years after he came before any fra- 
ternal societies were organized. There was not a 
church in the Aroostook valles" except tlie small 
Catholic chapel some tive miles above here on the 
river. The early settlers were good hearted, and 
some of them generous to a fault, bi't buckwheat 
and shingles took the place of cp.n■e^.c^■, and c.en 
that was required t.) purchase food for a dependerit 
famih-. The worth\- physician ne^■er lacked for 
good will and good wishes, bi:t at the best there 
was but liitle pa\'. 

In some of tuesj N'cars, v»'ith a practice that 
made severe demands upon l.i:^ tini;' and SLrei\L'th, 
mone\- was so scarce tliat it was iliflijuJt to collect 



HISTORY OF l-Uirr rAlRllKLU. 



-95 



enough to n;iv for the medicine used in his prac- 
tice. Ifenon.Lili w.is obt.iined ofsuch as the farm- 
ers raised to support himself and wile, his time 
was o-iveii to re.mdar practice, and Utile attention 
was paid to eollcctino- bills. The doctor's liome 
is the most prominent hmdmark oi' the Aroostook 
war. With the exception of the removal of the 
broa.l piazza that r.m alon^ the front of the entire 
buildino-, there is little chan^•e since I saw it in 
ICS4:;, then occupied by Capt. X'anXess, Lieuten- 
ant Rickets and Dr. Co;)lid,ue, of the United States 
Infantry. Here the doctor may still be Ibund, 
laro-ely relieved ol' his extensive practice hv 
vouno-er and more active men. joii^in-' his pro- 
fesssional bretliren in consultation and in answer- 
ino- calls near at home from those who never for- 
cret the old and tried physician or want to exchange 

lor the new. 

The exposure and hardships of .1 larue practice 
Iv.ivc told se\ erely upon the doctor, and physically 
he has a^u'cd beyond his years, but his brain is clear, 
and if necessity demanded, his hand would be as 
slronu" to perform as in years L:,'one b\". 

When the doctor settled here, the business 01 
the place was lar-vly carried on at the lower part 
of the villa-e. or "down to rattee's."" as it was then 
ealled. Pallec- ami Hyde were enuaued in the 
mill and lumber trade. Haines and Kni-ht and ^ 
John Sterlin- were keeping- public houses on a 



296 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



small scale, but rull\- up to the demands of the 
travellino- public, and while he thouuht this a i^ood 
place to commence the work of his profession, he 
nc\-er expected the bright and prosperous future 
that has come to our \illage, or the \indication of 
his o'ood judgment in choosing this for a home. 

While largeh- those here with him in pioneer 
life ha\"e gone on before him, those who still re- 
main join in hoping a long and sunshiny ending to 
a dcNOted, faithful and useful life. 

DR. A. D. SAWVKR. 

A. D. Saw\er. ^l. I)., was born in Cumberland 
countv. Maine, in 1^53. He attended the public 
schools and Litchfield academy. He attended the 
Maine medical school, and graduated from the Uni- 
\ersit\' of the citv of New York with the title of 
M. D., in iS'.So. 

ImmediateK- after gr.iduati ng. he commenced 
the practice of medicine at Lisbon, arid the same 
\ ear was married to Miss ?^Iabel C Spear. .Vfter 
iiA'C years' practice in this, his native town, he re- 
moved to 1^'ort FairHeld. Since coming to this 
town the doctor has been in constant practice of 
his profession, and lias pro\ed an able and success- 
ful practitioner. In addition to his professional 
duties, he has taken a li\ely interest in education- 
al matters, and from liSHc) to i<S92 he was super- 
\ isor of schools. At the March meeting of i<S94 
he was chosen chairman of the board of school 



IIIS'IOR^ ()!•■ I'OX'l' I'AIK1-I1:LI). 



•^97 



committee, and In tin- otiior members of the 
board elected aLi'ain to the ollice oT siiper\isor ot" 
s^diools. I'^or four \ ears lu- has with ^reat accept- 
abilit\- sef\ ed on t!ie United States jiension board, 
and at the present timj is secret ir\- of the board. 

I lis home is cheered b\- the presence ol three 
acti\e. li\el\" b()\s. The doctor is an acti\e and 
infhiential Mason, and as a professional man antl 
citizen is hrUl in hiLL'h esteem b\ all \\!io know 
him. 

])]<. I). |. p.F:i.r.. 

I), j. Hell. M. J)., is of Lo\ali-tic tiescent. aiul 
was born at I^ristol, L'arleton countw Xew r)runs- 
wi;k. in iN''>,^. and receixed an education in the 
com-'on schools of tliat place. llis medical de- 
Ljree was conferred In the Maine medical school 
of Bowdoin Uni\ ei-sit\-, in i SSS. He opened a 
general practitionei' s otFice in the \ illaii'e of b'ort 
I'^urfield the same \ear, and commenced pract'ce. 
and In- close attention to his professional cUitio, 
lias achie\ ed a fair amount of success. His wile, 
whom he married in iSS--;. was a Miss Miller of 
(ilassN ille. L'arleton countw New Ihunswick. 

Tlu- doctor has (.'stablisluHl hi.^ residencL- and 
olhce at the l^iiapet. I'^irt Ilill. where- lie is snuiilv 
entrenched within the rarthw oik^ ol the old fort, 
from which tlir tow n takes its nanu'. 

oi;. I N-^. li \i;\ \.\ Ml K- I'liN . 
Jas. llai"\i'\ Murpiu. !M. !).. was born in .\n- 



2gS HISTORY OF FOIH^ FAIRFIELD. 

dover. New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, May 
4th, 1866. 'I'hc Ibundation lor a practical educa- 
tion was laid in the Ando\er high school, julv 4, 
1883, when but little over seventeen vears old, he 
entered a drug store as an apprentice, at Calais, 

After three ^^ears" experience and careful study, 
and ha\ing removed to iNIadison, Wisconsin, in 
1886 he recei\ed a diploma as a pharmaceutist. Af- 
ter three \ears more of experience and studv, in 
1889 he entered the medical school at Brunswick, 
Me., and June 24th, 1891, he graduated with hon- 
or, and received the title of M. D,, and on July 12 
of the same year he opened an office and com- 
menced the practice of his prolession in this vil- 
lage. 

Dr. ?^Iurph\-, hv careful attention to business, has 
built up a good practice, and secured a good social 
and professional standing in the communitN'. The 
doctor is unmarried, makes his home at the Ervin 
House, and is devoted to his profession, witli ev- 
er\- indication of a successful future before him. 



HISTURV OF FOitT FAIRFIE1>D. 



299 



CHAPTER XXXXl. 

I'ROFFSSIOXAL MKX. 
IIOX. )()IL\ r.. 'IRAF'I'ON. 

Joliii ^. 'I'l-al'ton was the eldest son ol" (icn. 
^lark Trat'ton. lie was boi-n in IVmn'c)!". Maine, 
where h.e spent his boNhood, and h;id the ad\an- 
ta_u;es of sehools. He remained in sehool one wai" 
after liis lather eanie to t'nis eountw ami tlien in 
1844 heeaine a resident ol" this town. (Letter 1) 
plantation), and opened a law oliiee on Fort II ill, 
in one ol" the olHces \aeated hv the otheers ol" the 
Ignited States trooi")S. This was the introduetion 
ol a new s^■stel■n into tlie new settlement, and was 
looked upon at lii'st with sonu* tle^ree ol siispieion. 
While the settlers wei\" not abo\e disputes and 
disagreements, the\' were too poor to enn'ai^e in 
law suits, aiul what eould not be settled b\ a knock- 
down arL^ument. had been allowed to u"o b\ de- 
fault. . 

Mr 'i'r.ifton, with wisdom .md dii;nit\ far be\onil 
his years, soon established a reputation that ira\ e 
him intluenee anion;;- the settlers for l;-(;oc1, and 



300 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

came to be looked up to as :i friend, who would 
ii'wc ad\ ice that w(nild be wise to follow, withor.t 
a thought on the part ol' the i-ecei\ers that it was 
\aluabie counsel that ouj^'ht to be paid f'oi", aiul in 
most instances on account (;f the po\ert\- of I'c- 
cei\ ers, was i:,"i\en in tlie same spirit. A\ hile for 
man\ \ears he was the onl\ law \ei" north of lloul- 
t(jn, his pa\ iuL;- practice was \ er\- small, and he 
found it necessar\' to en^aLte in other business to 
make a lixin^- lie thus became acti\el\' en^a^cd 
in lumbering-, milling and I'ai'uiinL;', doinn' an im- 
portant woi-k in the develojiment ol" the '"infant in- 
dustries" ol' the ne^v settlement. 

He was postmaster from i>S44 to i<S4(), and from 
i(S53 to iS()0, and for twelxe \ears tilled the im- 
portant and responsible position of count\- attor- 
ne\'. In this time it fell to his lot to manau'C for 
the State man\- important criminal matters, nota- 
bl\- the trial and con\iction of James ?klatthews for 
murder in 1S54. This case he mana;^vd without 
assistance aL;"ainst eminent counsel enii"a<i'ed for the 
defence. This we think is the onl\' trial for mur- 
der in an Aroostook court. Matthews was sen- 
tenced to be hanged, but died in jMuson before the 
execution of his sentence. Mv. Traib)n had an 
important part in the tirst attempt to executcethe 
then new prohibitor\- law. in the courts. The tirst 
prosecutions aroused great interest on the part of 
the public, a large- majoritv of the people of the 



iiisTOUY OF i-ouT lAiKi n:i.i'- I'M 

;^^-at Uiat tinu' l.cin- appa.vnllv x c. y nuuh 
a-Minsl the hnv. a,ul openly ..pposecl to .Is cnlorce- 

'"Vlc U.ok an active and inlluential pari in ll>e or- 
ganization ol- the ,:;th Maine Re-inK-nl. and xvas 
r.lTerea th.c position oC one ol its held olhcers, l.i:t 
deeided that l.oth his c,.untr\ a,ul lus <,wn nUor- 
ests demanded that it should -o to another, lie 
has ex er remained a friend of the soldie.s. and th.e 
cai-.se for which tl)e\- lon-ht. 

Mr. Traftons hovhocal was spent amidst the 
n,„.t popular davs of Denxuratie sspreinacy. and 
iK. eante to his nrajority w hen it had obtatned a 
power and inllnenee possessed b> no other parte 
in the historvofottr country. How much th,s may 

huchei to-d,wif, hi, d.-.isi.a "-■'"'>:,"-■;,;;; 

•know.l.utth,>wedok„ow.hecas,h,slotw,th that 
party, and has alwavsleenaeonsistent.acfve work- 
er mul leader amon- its hosts. 

Those familiar with the political history ol or.r 
„,,„,,,„,, State since ,S<,o will see that th,s has 
been ureativ to his disadvanta.^e so lar as pot .cal 

p,efernK-n.was c.ncerned. Uc has devoted hm.- 
Vdrtohispro,essio„,main..nniu.ahi,h.vpu,at,,u, 

a. a counselor, eiti/.en and Inend. In .M > 
the candidate of l-s part> for p,_e.ide,U,al e ecter. 
In tS.So he was a delegate to the Dem.Ktattc .,..- 
,i„„al convention at Cincinatti. l-or .nanv vears 
he has beer, president of the county br.v tu-seoal.'^t- 



304 HISTORY OF FOliT FAIRJ-^IELD. 

and held in hi^h esteem hv his professional 
associates. Of late years he has been somewhat 
less active in politics, bnt is earnestly and success- 
riill\- engaged in his professional duties. 

In 1847 he embarked upon the matrimonial sea. 
He married jNIiss Sarah Staple of Sangerville, Me., 
and laid the foundation for a quiet, peaceful and 
hap]")\' lile. To them ha\ e been born children, 
ol whom two onh- h;u e lived to ^■ears of maturity: 
a tlexoted, loveh" daughter, the wife of C B. Rob- 
erts, Esq., of Caribou, and Herbert A\\ Trallon, 
Escp, for two years the able and efficient school 
directoi", under wIk^sc supervision town and \\\- 
lage schools ha\e n"hiintained their high standing. 
He has also ser\ed one term as deputy collector at 
this place, and is a member (A' the I:iw hrm of 
Ti-afton and Trafton of this \illage. 

HON. NKTIOLAS FESSENDEX. 

Nicholas Fessenden, son of llewett C and Mary 
T. I'essenden, and a grandson of General Samuel 
b'essenden of Portland, was born at Saco iri York 
count\-, No\ember 23d, 1847. In 1855 his father 
remo\ed to Eastport, in AN'ashington county, and 
there the subject of this sketch resided until riian- 
hood, obtaining liis education in the schools of 
Eiistport, then as now, among the be it in tiie SLUe, 
at the Lewiston I^^a Is acadiun r. since known as 
the Edward Little institute, ;!nd at l^Dwdoin c:)l!ege, 
w'lich h/ entjrjj i ;i iS)|. H > i-j:id !a\v wlt'i t!".e 



Iiis;torv ok i-()I!T fatrfikld. 



.V\^ 



late John II. French of Eastport, and also in ihc 
office of (ion. S. I). Lc:i\ilt. and was admitted to 
l->ractice at Machias in Api-il. 1S6S. 

After practicing- a Near in Calais, and soniethii\i;- 
less than a \ear in Pembroke, Mr. Fesscnden came 
to I'^)i-t f^iirfield in Octobei". 1S71. where he lias 
e\er since reside.!, IruinL;- m irried Laura 1^., daugh- 
ter ol' the late John Sterling-, who was one ol' the 
pioneers of f^)rl: f^iiriield, or, as it was Cormerly 
ealled. Letter I). Kanue i. 

The \illa<i-e of Lort Laii-field in 1N71 was but a 
"coantrN- corner," compared with the town of today; 
and law practice \ieldin_n- but a trifling- income, Mr. 
r\*ssenden devoted liimself tcUeachino- and waitini^^ 
for the business which he confidently believed 
would come with the u-rowlh of the town and sur- 
roundiuLi' counlr\ , 

At one time and another Mr. Lessenden has held 
\arious municipal offices. lie was the second 
town clerk e\er elected, succeeding- the late llen- 
rv W. ll\cle, ( who had held the othce IVom the 
incorporation of the town in 1S5.S, until hi^ death 
in iS;:^.) He served one or moi-e years as sujx-r- 
\isor of schools and as a member ol' the board oi 
schocl committee, and for ei^ht successixe years, 
IVom 1.S75 to iNS^, was an acti\e member of the 
board of municijial olhcers, interesting himsell in 
e\er\ m Msure which ten.leJ to ad\ance tlie de\el- 
oj^meiU and pro;4ress of the town, and losing no 



]0(} 



HISTORY OF VCnVV FAIRFIELD. 



opportunitx' to Mchocatc wliatcvcr seemed to prom- 
ise the future achaneement of its prosperitv. 

f"or four \'ears, from i<S77 to icSSo, ]Mr. Fessen- 
(len ser\ ed the eount\' as register of probate. In 
1S83-4 he was a member of the exeeiitixe eouneil, 
during" (70^■ernor Robies hi'st term, — was elerk of 
the Maine house ol' representati\es in iSS^-y-g, and 
in Januar\-, i.St)!. was eleeted seeretary of State, 
the duties of whieh oHiee he is disehari;inii" ;it 
the time of th.is writing-. 

For man\- \ears ^^Ir. Fessenden has been elosely 
identified with the i^reat order of Oddiellowship, 
and has been honored h\ the mei-duMship with the 
ofliee ol' grand mastei", and also grand repi"esenta- 
ti\e. 

The \ears from i.Syi until the p.resent ha\"e wit- 
nessed the most pronouneed period ol" growth with 
whieh f\)rt Fairlield has been fa\'ored. The \ il- 
lage in this time has grown irom a liamlet of eight 
business plaees and a seattered and straggling row 
of dwellings, into one (A' th.e push'ug, thri\ing 
towns of the .State, enjo\ing most of the modern 
privileges, sueh as waterworks, eleetrie lighting 
and othei" eonvenienees wdiieh make towns pleas- 
ant and enjo\able, and it is fair to the subjeet (A 
this sketeh to sa\- that his iiiHuenee has been eon- 
stantl\- and eontinuall\- exereised in faxor of an\- 
thin<>" eondueinj>- to sound growth. 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 307 



II ON. M. N. DKl.W. 

Morrill N. Drew, son of lion. Jesse and Clara 
r>. Wellington Drew, was b( rn in l-^»rt l-\iirtielcl 
Ma\- lytli. iS()2. lie was educated in the public 
s;!iO)ls, iVites colleu'c and tlie I^oston unisefsity. 
lie i^r.uluated Troni the law department of the lat- 
ter institution in iSS;. and recei\ed the decree ol 

L. L. b^ 

lie was admitted to the bar in May. 1SS5. in 
Androsc()ii\uin countw and duriiiLi" the summei- ol 
iSS:; pursued the stud\- ol' law in the office ol 
Powers and Powers in Iloulton. 

In October. 1NS5. he commenced the practice ol 
law at l-^)rt l-^airlield. and continued the practice 
of his prol'ession uiitil October. iNi):;. when he re- 
mo\ed to Portland to lorm a ]'»artnership with 
Rdp'i T. \\'nite!r)-.isj, s:)n of Jud-e William 
Penn Whitehouse. 

In 1SS6 he was unanimt)usl\ nominated by the 
Republican countv conxcntion I'or the o'lice ol 
count\' altornew and was cK-cted. recei\ ini:," the 
I'ull pait\- vote, and lillini^- the otlice so acceptably 
that he receixeil a unanim!)us nomination a<;ain. 
and was elected. In i.SSS he was ehairman ol the 
Republican counts con\ention. lie leceived a 
unanimous nomination loi' the leuislalure in iSt)<>. 
and elected b\ the largest majority ever L;i\en in 
the district, and ai^ain in iS()2 recei\eda unanimous 
nomination, and was anain elected. In the leL;is- 



.^oS HISTORY OF KOirr FAlRI'lELn. 

lature he served on three committees, viz: the ju- 
diciary, the le,o-al affairs and taxation. In T.ScSy he 
was appointc;! by (governor I>urloigh one oF the 
commissioners to investigate the condition oF af- 
fairs in Madawaska territory In 1889 he was ap- 
I'x'inted by (jONcrnor Burleigh one of tlie commis- 
sioners to contract for. and purchase bind for the 
settlers in Madawaska territ()r\-. In the perlorm- 
ance of all these official duties yir. Drew has dis- 
played marked abilit\-, and oi\en the best of satis- 
faction to the public whom he has served. 

In 1892 he was active in forming the b^jrt b^iir- 
tield national bank, ainl was its president until he 
rem()\ed to Portland. Vov four vears and up to 
the time of his removal to Portland, h.e was a di- 
rector in Presque Isle national bank. 

In December, 1892, I\Ir. Drew was married to 
^Nliss Sarah Louisa, daughter of Hon. Jesse Davis, 
of Lisbon, Maine. 

Hon. Morrill N. Drew has always been a Re- 
publican in politics, and occupied a good .position 
among his pai'ty associates, and as acti\e in poli- 
tics as has been consistent with careful attention 
to his professional duties. I"'^nquestionably, there 
is a bright future before him, and an open field, 
either in the line of his prolession or in the politi- 
cal world. 

WTIJJAM 'I'. s!'i:.\i;. 

William T. Spear, the oldest son of Reuben 1\ 



HISTORY OV VDIVV FA I R 11 1: 1. 1). 



3"9 



and ^lartha S. Spear, was born in New \'incvard, 
I'^-anklin coiuUn-. Maine, I^\'briiar\- i<), i''^,^;,!; li\ed 
in Xew Portland until .\uL!;ust, iS()2, when his par- 
ents eniii^rated to h^reniont plantation, now the 
town of Kaston. in this eoiintN', and settled on a 
new lot, on wliich the\- ]i\"ed until iS,)j, wlien 
t!ie\" s:)ld and purchased the farm at Easton centre 
where his father resided until ISIareh, i^^94. ^Ir. 
Spear's lather bein^", like main oi'the earl\- settlers 
of Aroostook, poor, William was brouj^'ht up to 
work on the farm, which he did eitlier for his father 
or others, u.ntil twerit\- \ears of aue. 

Ilavini;-, like man\' another faruK'r s bo\- in a 
new settlement, been depri\ ed of the pri\ilege of 
attendini;" school durini;' the first twent\- \ears of 
his life, except lor a few weeks in winter, his edu- 
cation practicall\- be^an in the fall of iNj.^ when 
he attended a term of hi<4"h school in this town, 
tiunht b\- lion. Nicholas Fessenden. I'^rom that 
time niitil 1N77 Mr. Spear spent his tiir.e in attenil- 
■ipi^ our hiL;h school, with oi".e term at Ib)ult<.n 
acadi.nr\-. and teachinu-. In the sjirinii' of 1S77 lie 
entered the ollice of C. T. Daniels, ICsq,, then of 
Pies(pie Isle, to stud\ law. In the fall of that \e:ir 
he e.Uered the ollice (.T the late Jud-e II. K\ 
1) )WiiesofIVjs pij IsL-, w ii!i w!iom h • w .s asio.i- 
ated as a student anal law partner, until No'.ember. 
iSSo. he ha\ in 4' Ik'.'u aelmilicd to the Aro )Sto:)k bar 
in I''ebru.ar\ . iJ^yS, when he rjniovcd to F(jrl Fair- 



lO 



HISTORY OF F()i;r fairfiicld. 



tic'ld. WiTjrc lie practiced liis profession until 
April, 1SS2, when r.e renioNed to Iloulton and 
(\)rnied a co-partnership \\ith Hon. X^inal 1). Wil- 
son, with wlioni he was associated until )anair\' r, 
1885. 

PoliticalK', Mr. Speai- has al\va\s been a Demo- 
crat, and as su.ch. du.riuL:,- the past eii^hteen \ears 
has taken an acti\e interest in politics, discussing- 
in nearl\- e\er\' canipaii;'n political cpicstions in the 
press and from the stjmp. I'^-r se\ eral \ears he 
has ser\ed on the town and cou.nt\" coniniittees oj 
his part\- and been a dele^'ate to se^'eral State coPi- 
\entions. 

In 1H76 he was tlu' Democratic candidate lor 
register of probate, bat Nvas defeated b\' Hon, X. 
h\\ssenden. In iSSo hj was unanimoush' re-nomi- 
nated for that orilce and elected, serxinj^ I'oui- \ears. 
In April, I'^^S^, he was appointed deput\- collector 
of customs at Jloulton, and ser\ ed in that capa- it\' 
imtil jime, 188S, when he resigned to return to 
h\_)i"t h^iiriield to resume the practice ol' law. \n here 
he lias since resided. In iS()2, ?slr. vSpcar wiis 
unanimoiisl\- nominatetl as the Democratic candi- 
date lor jutlLic of }M-obate, but tiie Republicans 
e:irr\ini,^ the countw he was detV-ated. He is now 
ser\'inLi' as a deput\- collector ofcustoms. to which 
office he was appointed in June, r8',)_:>. During his 
residence in Presque Isle he ser\ed on the school 
committee, or as super\'isor, and from iSSi to \Sj, 



Ills ^(.)l':^ oi-- loui' i".\ik i- ii"-I.i>. 



.V ' 



OL-cupiccl l!u- ollk-r of town clrrk of l''"rl l-'.iirlK-Kl. 
OctnlKT I jllu 1SS5, lu' \v;is iiKiniiil In Anim- K-. 
ilau-hUT (.r Kc-\. Jimu's IUt.iuI. ! >. 1>.. <'l' ^t- 
|(.lin, N. r>., b\ whi-ni Ik- has oiu' chiltl, a s"n. 
jaiius h'cniu't Spc-ar. born NovenilHT i()tlK i^«)i. 
Wc has al\va\s taken a li\ cl\- inlcrcsl in rcliica- 
tional and other matins tliat trnd to build np l^'^ 
town, and ad\ancc the prosperity ol" .\n;osl(M;k 
eoinUx . 

|(;)1N X. r,i:ii)(.Ks. 
jolm N. Hrid-es was born in Medd\ bem]^<. M^- 
Nov. i()th, 1S66, ar.d was educated in tb.e pv.h\\c 
schools of his .native tt-wn and (.1" tb.e eity n[' Cal- 
ais. He eomn:eneed tb.e study (-1' hiw in tb.e ( th.e 
and with A. MaeXiehol of Cadais, v.m\ was admit- 
ted to the Washin-ton annUy 1 ar. jr.d-e Kniery 
presidiuLi", in October, i<St)j. 

Alter a practice of (me year in Calais, b.e m:;r- 
lied and immediately came to I'ort I'airf.eld and 
opened an olIL-e, and is receixin- a 'j:n^Ci sliare <d 
business in his prolession. 

m.KUMK'r r. r(;\\i:ivs. 
jleibeit'l". I'owers wa.s born in bitlslield. Me.. 
NoNember i ^h. 1S70: was educalcd in the inddie 
and hi-h sch.ool^. lie \v:is a.dmilted to the 1 ar m 
ScMiunVet countv in September. iN,j, and ^(c.n al- 
UT commenced the practice < f h;w in Hlamc. m 
this countv. One Nvar later be ibixd a rccdopcu- 



I 2 



HISTORY OF FOUT FAIRFIELD. 



ini>iii the \IllatJ^e of Ft. Fairrteld, and took the oMiJc 
made vacant bN' the remoNal of Hon. ]\I. X. Drew 
to Porthmd. He has secured a i^ood practice, and 
is making man\- friends. He is unmarried and is 
coimted amono- tlie most promising ^"oun^• men of 
the day. 

WILIJEKr F. nARTFETT. 

T\Ir, AVilbert L. Bartlett. after se\en years of hiw 
j^ractice, in the fall of 1893 decided to open an of- 
lice in the village of Fort Fairfield. Mr. Bartlett 
is an easv public speaker, a Republican in politics, 
and is building up a good practice. 

IlERKERT W. TRAFTOy. 

Herbert W. Trafton, onl\- son of Hon. John B. 
Traftcn and SarrJi Tnftcn cf Fcit Faiitield, was 
born thirty years ago. He graduated from Colb\- 
uni\ersity in the class of '86. He stic'icd K.w 
with C. B. Roberts of Caribou and with |. B. Traf- 
ton of Fort I-'airlield, and was admitted to the 
Aroostook county bar at the Februarv term of the 
supreme judicial court in 1891. In August of the 
same Near he was united in marriage to Miss Kate 
P. Winslow. 

Mr. Trafton has served one term as deputy col- 
lector at Fort Fairtield, and two years as schccl 
supcr\isor, and is actively- engaged in the law bus- 
iness under the firm name of Trafton and Trafton. 



HISTORY OF rOllT FAIRFIELD. 



.^3 



CHAPTER XLII. 

PROFFSSIOXAL .Mi:X CONTIM" i: I). 

Ki:\-. (;i:f). i?. iiicscolk. 

George P). llescock was born in Abbot, Piseat- 
aquis eountN. Maine, in 1S42. Before bis majority 
be was aeti\el\- en^a^ed in tlie war ol'tbe Rebelbnn, 
f'aitbf'uIK perform in Li" ibe duties of a soldier until 
tbe battle of tbe Wilderness in May. iS^)-!- In tbat 
memorable battle he was wounded; this was fol- 
lowed b\- wear\- months in the hospital, a furlouL^h 
to return home, and linal diseharue for disability. 

\\'ith lu-.ilth inipaiied. he set himself about se- 
ein-ini;" a praetieal edueation, seleetin^' teaehiui:; as 
a profession. This he followed until the fall of 
iSSS, when he entered into an arranLiement with 
the ConLiie^ational soeiet\- of this xilla^e to supj^ly 
tlu'ii- jHili'iit for an indefinite time with the \ iew 
of beeominii- tluir pastor, should the relations 
thus formed j">ro\\' to be mutualK satisfaetory. 

On the jSth of Mareh. i SSo. he was oi-daiiu-d to 
the i^-ospel ministr\- and installed pa'^tor ol the l*^>rt 



314 HISTORY OF FOr>T FAIRFIELD. 



I'^iiiiicld C(jni;'rei;ati()nal Church. Since that time 
I'nc Rc\'. ?^Ir. llcscock has with L;rcat acceptability 
discharged tlie important an.d responsible duties 
incumbent i;pon that (;ffice, ami is h.eld in hi^h 
esteem hv all the people who kr.ow hiim. 

i;i:\ . ). II. I'.ARKICR, M. I). 

Dr. Harker, the present pastor of the Methodist 
ICpiscopad Cluirch. was born in Shellicld. Sunbur\- 
eount\'. Xew l)runs\\ick. \\c graduated Irom 
llar\ard medical school ir, i^^<^). He practiced 
medicine in Xew Brunswick for thirtx" \ears. 
Duriui;- his medic;d "practice he was a Christian 
\v()rkei\ aidin.ix the local pastors in their work. 
Vor a louii,- time he had been sti-onL;l\- inclin.ed 
towards th.e work ai' the rci^ular niinisti-\-. In the 
spriii^" ol' I <S(S() lie matle iipplication ;irid was ad- 
mitted into I'];iSL Maii^ie eonl'erenee aiid joir.ed th.e 
itinerant ranks. 

'Idle immediate cause ofthe doctor's <ii\in_L!,- him- 
sj!i' to this \v(n-k w;is th.e immediate and miracu- 
lous healiuL:,' ol' his p>resent wife in..\pril oi" iS(S:^. 
She had b.een a spiiud ir.xalid i'ov fourteen x'cars : 
she had he'cn treated Iw man\- L,ood }^»h.\siciar,s, 
who h:id lailed to lu'lp h.ei-. In the sprinil," of th.".t 
Near, in answer to the )')ra\"cr ol faith, she receixed 
the healir.ii touch ol" the (ireat Ph\ sician, and from 
a state 01' extreme emaciation ar.d almost total pa- 
ralxsis, she rose immediatcK' and walked. 

Or.e \ eai" after her hcdini-" slie was united to Di". 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIFLD. 



.i^.-> 



I'arkcr in marriage, and for nine years they have 
been en,!u-agecl in earnest and Cailhri:! work inlnnld- 
ino- up the kinud()ni of Christ. A little one two 
\ e.;rs and ei^ht months old now eheers the parson- 
aLiC home in I'^ort h^iirlield. 

The doctor's tirst wife was a Miss Taylor ol 
Shetheld. and a nieee ol" e\'-( Jo\ ernor 'l'ille\- 
of Xew I'runswiek. She left live ehildren. thiee 
sons and two dauuhteis. Two oT his sons are in 
business in Oakland. Calirtn-nia. aiul the third is 
pastor ol" a Methodist church at Red Deer, Alber- 
ta countw Xoithwest Territory. Dominion of Can- 
ada. His dauii-hter Stella is now cashier of the 
international sleamshii-) comjiany. ICastporl. Me. 
'J'he other daughter is at home with her parents at 
the l''o;t b^airlield j'larsonaiic. 

The ]-)astor's pi-esent relations with his society 
and the jK'ople of this town ha\ e been eminently 
j-ileasant and j^.rotitable. and the prospect is tnat the 
annual conrerence soon to meet at Iloulton will 
not break the bonds that now unite pastor and peo- 
pU-. 

Ri:\'. (;i:(). i;i;i c i: \u iioi.son. 

(ieorLie Uruce Nicholson was boi^n in i)osl<tn. 
Massachusetts, in iN()j. Ai'tei- spendini;" the usual 
time in the public schools, in i SNo he uradu.ated 
from the (ireenxille. N. ^'.. military academy in 
\ iew ol'enterinL;- the \\'e>t Poirit military academy. 
'I'hat plan was abantlonetl. and he I'nuaued in busi- 



3i6 



HISTORY OF FOIJT FAIRFIELD. 



ncss. In i«82 he was m.-irricd to Miss Adelaide 
Smith of Boston. Subsequcntlw h;n ini;- a call to 
the ministry, he eni^'a^ed in a thoron^h preparation 
lor that work, and in IiSqi was ordained deacon in 
the cathedral of St. Luke, Portland, Maine. He 
then went to Massachusetts and was in charge, 
tempf)rarily, of St. James L"hui-ch, Somei-xille. 

In the fall of 1S92 he was stationed at h^)rt Fair- 
held, Maine, by Rioht Re\ei-end Dr. XceK. bishop 
of Maine, and also placed in charge of Caribou, 
and later of Limestone. In the fall of 1893 he 
was ad\an.ced to the priesthood b\- the Ri«^ht Rev- 
erend Bishop Xeel\- in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 
b^)rt Fairfield. At the or^-ani/ation of the convo- 
cation of Aroostook, he was elected dean of the 
comocation. and instituted into the office b\' the 
bishop. 

i;i:\'. f;FOR(;i': k. kmuci.and. 

Mr. Kneeland is a \(yuno- nian who is now, after 
nearly two years with the b^)rt Fairiield h^ree Bap- 
tist Chu)-ch, ser\ iuL^- them with great acceptability. 

He is pro\ ino- to be a faithful and industrious 
pastoi\ de\()ted to his work, and in connection 
with his estimable wile, is doing" good work for 
the Master. 

wii.iaAM i'i:x.\ \Ai;xi-:v. 

^^"ilIiam Penn \'arnev was born in Albion, Me., 
^lay 2oth, 1S32. His parents were members of 
th.e society of Friends, and through all his years 



iiisioKV <)i" I'oiri' FA IK in: 1. 1). 



^ ' / 



up to carh manhood the influence of tliat society 

entered laru'elx' into his so-ial surroundings. 

In iN5,^ lie married I>\clia Conk ol'L'hina. Maine, 
and in i S{k) i-emoxed to I'^at Fail field and located 
in the soath |iart ol" llie t(A\ n. in a new neighbor- 
hood made of membei's of that so- iet\-. He com- 
menced to make a honie in the up.hroken wikler- 
ness, and ujion this h)cation lie has i-emained until 
tlie present time. To them ha\ e been born six 
children, two of whcuii ha\ e passed o\ er to the bet- 
ter land, two are : "arried aiul ha\ e j'jleasant and 
happ\' bonus, within an hour's ride of tlie home of 
their childhood, while the Noungest two are not 
\et ol' aij,"e. 

In the ori'-ani/ation oi' the Maple (jro\ e b'tiends 
s)jijt\-, M •. \'a;M-' .■ t ) )k a 1 a Jti\ e and in'baential 
p irt, and from the iirst was an acti\ e and wortlu' 
member, ar.d in 1SS2. he became a i"ecoii"ni/.ed 
minister b\- the societ\ of \\hich he had lonu^ been 
a member; a position he has uninteri ujitedK tilleil 
until the jiresent time. ^\'hiIe hi> ministerial labors 
lia\e been principalK' with this societ\, Mr. \'ar- 
r.e\- is held in hiuh esteem in the community, and 
is a,cti\e and outspoken on all (]uestions of reform. 
Ki:\'. laaiKi i)(.i". Kxioirr. 

I'dbridue Knight was b<»rn in Ne\\pi»it. New 
^'ork, julx i<)th, 1 ">!_'. IK- was ftlncated in the 
public sciiooh-. and Phillijis academy. Ando\er. 
Mass., where he '-per.t four \ ears in ih.e study ol 



T.1^ 



IIISTOI-fV O'S roKT FAim-llilJ). 



t\: hi^-'.ijr Ei'^'lish br.rijlijs, cl.issics a;i 1 cl\il ci- 
^iivjcri 1 j;. lie w.i ; pi'.)i'cs.>;)r oi ni ith jni it'us ;ri 1 
tliLV)!;) ;"\' in Ilijlnij; th?:)l();^-Ic i1 ins!:itiito,Pl\ni )-.il'i, 
New Ihinips'iiro. \VhiIc priivjip.il of L'r.if'L ^!).i:" ,' 
acaclcmv, Craftsburw Wthi )nt, tlu Wtoi ):it u:ii- 
versit\- conl'crrcJ up):"! him tlu tk'i^TCJ of .\. M. 
lie was inirricd DjjcmbLT roth, iS4[, in ^Mont- 
pclicr, \'t., to ]\liss .Vnne A\'hittcn of l>oston, ?^I;iss. 
She was born iii Rocliester. \'t., April 6th, iSi6. 
To tlieni ha\e ])een born nine ehildren: Ilerni;in 
Kni'^'ht, born in December, iS_j.2. and now re- 
siding" in b\)rt Fairnehd. Ilomcr \\\, now residing" 
in Boston, ?klass., Mur\- Anna, deceased, Eihi Mav, 
now residini;' in Presqiie Isle. Herbert 1)., — in bus- 
iness at Presque Isle, died in hAdiruary, 1S94, — Kl- 
tie, now in ijoston, ^[ass., IIenr\- Elbridi;"e, now in 
Colorado. Dora Eunice, deceased, and .Vdelbert II.. 
who noNV resides on the old homestead in Fort 
Fairtield. 

In i(S::;2 he become tiie acting- pastor ol' the Con- 
o-ix>i>;ati()nal Church, ^hich relation he sustained 
for nearh' tilteen \ears. He was social and ap- 
proachable, ai\d gained the eontidence of old aaul 
\()ung. His congregations were g.):)d, and while 
much ofhi^ time was taken with his official duties, 
he made him a comfortable home and good larm 
out OL the wilderness. An idea of the ministerial 
work ma\- be obtained when we realize tlie bad 
condition of t'u' mirls. and that his labors extend- 



insTOi^v o*/ I'oirr I'Aii^FiicLn. 



;>!') 



cd to I.illlcton, Washburn, I .iir.cstor.c aiul nci'4"li- 
h(.iinL:' plaiUali( ns. In ;i single iv.(.:.lli Vc ti";i\c!ecl 
n\cv ihrcc huiuli'ctl inik'S in L:,()ini^- to a:ul rcUirnin;;' 
from riuuTals. I lis carl\ training' as a. ci\il cnLjii-i- 
ccv was of uootl i:sc' in llic iicw cov.ntrx'. \yv liis 
caiX'liil work and !j,()o'J adxice nianNclisjuiks abor.t 
b()unc^ar\' b"p.cs were settled. lie was for a tiir.e 
in the eniph^N of the State in lotting- (uit the land 
(*r th.e settlers under t'le W'ebster-Ashburton 
treatw i\n(.] lotted th.e town of Washburn loi- set- 
tlenur.t. 

As a publie speakei he was loi^ieal. earr.esl and 
elleetiNe, alwa\s earrxin^' the eor.\ ieiion iu his 
hearers th.at h.e belie\ed what h.e ]~.re;:eh.ed. Mr. 
Knight w;is a.n earliest anti-sla\ ei"\ nia.n, aiul w h.eii 
the stiaiLiuk' lor supi'eniae\- eaiv.e h.e w :is an earr.- 
esl Kepubliea.n. 

With sla\er\- destro\ed, he looked upon inten:- 
perap.ee as its L;reat twin (,\il. and beiiexiiiu" the 
oruar-izalion of a tlistinet politieal jiaity, llie best 
niear.s to seeure its o . ei"thr(-w, h.e hr.s lee( w.v an 
earr.est and e(ji'.seienli()us Proliiliitioni.^'. 

L'oiiiinii- to a new eounti\- willi its h.ai dships ar.d 
l)ri\ alior.s, lie eheeiinlU a».ee|-.ted th.e siluali<'n, 
ai'ul has been a I'ailhrul -.w.lI succc^sl'il W( rker in 
athaneinLi- its interests and i:er.eral p-rc ^ j^erily. 
and b\ readini;" and ^;ludy bus hej.t will ad^casl t I' 
its steaih- ad\ ar-t enieiit, ar.d ;il lie ;i,i,e (f ci^hty- 
Iwo is well jiosted in public aiffairs, aiil rn ir.terest- 
ini;" and iiibtnictivc convcrsiititjp.alit:'.. 



3iO HISTORY OF FOirr FAIRI"IELD. 



CHAPTER XLIIL 

s()cii:'rii':.s. 

GRAM) AR^Fi' OF THE REl'LHLIC. 

It \v;is not until 18S2 that the cx-soldicrs of Fort 
Fairticld decided to organize a Grand Army post. 
This organization, perfected by tlic mustering in 
and election of the proper officers, brought togeth- 
er from time to time the '"old soldiers" and revived 
old associations, and kepi thj lires of patriotism 
burning. Since its first organization in October, 
i(SS2, there have been mustered into the post one 
hundred and twenty members. Tlie source Irom 
which numbers can be drawn point forward to the 
time when this organization must become extinct. 
None but men who ha\e ser\ed in the Union ar- 
mv in defence of the Union and ha\ e an honora- 
ble discharge are eligible to membership, and 
when death in\ades their ranks it leaves them 
without the means of re-hlling them. In a few 
short vears the- last meeting will be called to or- 
der, the last camptire enjoyed and the last recital 
of reminiscences been m.ide, 



HISTORY OF FORT IWI R FI ICLD. 



.^-:i 



Alicad\- tliirt\- of the veteran comrades liavc 
been lionorahI\- discharijed; fourteen have an- 
swered to tile last roll call, and others ha\ e remo\ ed 
to other states, while holding- their membership 
here, lea\ inu" man\ ^acant seats. 

The strong hold and kind remembrance in which 
this oro-anization now stands will best be understood 
b\" futui'e ii'enerations, from the consideration that 
a da\- has been set apart b\- the nation, in which 
all the l()\al people of the country j(Hn the (jrand 
Arm\" posts in decorating soldiers' graves, and 
assemble for memorial addresses; and in this year, 
A. I). iSg^, nearl\' IbrtN- \ears alter the close ol 
the wai-, tiie p.'ople assembled at their annual 
town meeting xoted to appropriate tiftx" dollars for 
the use ol" Kilpatrick Post, G. A. R.. to aid in ap- 
propiiatcK" ()bser\ ing Memorial Day. 

MASONS. 

Eastern Frontier Lodge No. 112. F. and A. M., 
was organized ^Ia\" Sth, 1862, and has been regu- 
larlv at labor until the present time. The follow- 
ing are the charter memliers: 1"\ \\\ Siuith. 1). W. 
Orcutt. K. W Whitney, j. B. Robbins. 11. F. h^.s- 
ter, j. i^. 'I^-afton, James Doyle. A. 1*. Wellington. 
H. 'I\ Durgin, Isaac Hacker and F. (t. Decker. 

Up to tlu- j->iesent time it has conferred the ile- 
gree of mastei" mason uj^on two hundred persons, 
counting among its membeis many ol the most re- 
liable citizens of tliis and ad joining towns: thirty- 



'XII HISTORY OF FOllT FAIRFIELD. 



three li.'nc died, others li;i\e deniitted to- join sis- 
ter h)d<i,"es, and others to renioxe to (.tlier loealities, 
until the jresent membership is reduced to one 
hundred. I'^.m t\-t\\o of its members were in the 
Ibiion arm\- in the war of t'ne l^ebeliion. After 
m in\- eli.mL^es, it is b)j.iLed in a bjiitiTu! hill up- 
on tlie second Hoor of a fine buildinLi,- owned b\' 
the IVaternitx". "^I'he I'ollowiuL^- are the (Jlieers: \\\ 
W. Sloeo:. b. \V. }>!.; E. L. IIou-l:ton, S. W.; ii. 
S. Stexens. j. AV. ; j. S. Hall, treasurer; N. II. 
Martin, secretary ; II. W. TraCton, S. I).: V. L\ 
jeCi's,!. 1).: (). S. (linn, S. S.; \\\ S. Davidson, J. 
S., and S. I^ Lord, 1\ 

ODD I'I:llo\\s. 

Pioi-.eer Lodge No. 77, I. I. (). F., l'\)rt b'airlield, 
Maine, was instituted b\'bi-uary 2 id, iSSi. 

'I'h.ei-e was ;it that time but \'\\ c Odd l^Vdlows to 
1 e r.iuiul in tl.e C( r.r.ty, viz: Rc\. (7. M. Park. j. 
A. I^ridges. V. Jor.es, K. \V. L(.wney and J. \.\Vv/.- 
/.eil. 

These, togetlier witli sexen others upon wh(/m 
il e degrees were cord'erred at that time, coi-.stitutcd 
tile chaj'ter members of th.e lodge. 

The tlrst officers were as follows: I\e\ . (7. M. 
Park, X. G.- ]. A. Bridges, V. G.; X. II. Martin.sec- 
retar\-; |. C Lunt, treasurer : II. X. (loodhue, \V. ; 
C. 1). (Jutts, C; II. D. Mills, j. I).; S. M. (^rant, 
R. S. S.; V. A. Buzzell, L. S. S.; V. A. (irant, R. 
S. X. C;.; C. E. Powers, L. S. X. G. ; W. R. (^rant. 



HISTORY OF FORT rAIRFlELD. 



,y'?> 



chaplain: A. O. Frciuli. R. S. \'. (I., and \. (i. 

(iillKTt, N. S. \'. (i. 

With the lirst \ car h)d--i's at lloullon. L'aiibou 
a v.l \\-c^.\ K' 1>K" w-'i-v' in^titiitj.l.thc charier ni-ni- 
b-rs withdrawing- I'i-'HH llic I'^tL l^iirticld lod.-c. 
Thcx now lia\c a hiruo and llourishin.o- lod^L^c of one 
Imndrcvl antl Tort:) members, and own the post ollice 
buikbnu-. with a hiru'c and well Curnished hall on 
the second tloor. 

Till': i:NtAMi'Mi:N'i-. 
On b\-bruary 24th. 1SS4, Northern Li-ht Kn- 
campment No. 142 was instituted, with thirteen 
charter members and the foHowino- otiicers: h. \\. 
Scates, C. \\: |. S. Stexens. 1!. P.: D. S. Jones, S. 
\\\: C. 1). L'ults, |. W'.: Vl. C. IV-tts. seeretar\ . and 
l-\ S. I'urpee. treasurer. 

Tiie charier members of the encampment at 
PrcMjue Isle hive withdrawn, and yet they lia\ e 
a llourishinu- membership of ei,ulity-se\ en. 

C\Nr>)N WAI'. \^S'). 

June J')lh. iSSS. L'anton W'abasso. No. 22 was 
instituted, with twent\-li\e charlei- members, and 
the I'ollowin-- ollicers: (". D. < 'utts. caiHain: (ieo. 
!•:. r>arllett, lieutenar.l: 11. N. (ioodhue. ensi«;n; 
I-:. !•:. Scales, clerk, and !'.. T. Duroin. treasurer. 

Alter the withdrawal of charier members Tor 
L'anton L'olumbia, Piescpie Isle, and Canton lloul- 
l(.n. lloullon. Me., this canton has lil'ty active ( uni- 
I'ormed) members, with L". D. Cutis, captain, and 
!•'. I^. Scales, clerk. 



.324 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

OTHER SOCIETIES. 

There is also a lodge of the Knights of P\thias, 
with Dr. J. II. Murphy C. i\ and II. T. Powers K. 
of R. and S,; a lod^e of the Independent Order of 
Foresters— G. W. Riehardson (\ R., and C. L. 
Riehards F. seeretar\-; the Knights of the (lolden 
Rule, and the usual societies o(" \ouno- people con- 
nected with the several churches. 

Both the W. C. T. U. and the non-paitisan \V. 
C T. U. ha\ e flourishing societies. The Chatauqua 
Circle has its regular meetings, and has an active, 
intelligent membership. 

Fort faii;fietj) may i, 1894. 

In addition to all the other advantages. Fort 
Fairfleld in 1894 has one of the flnest water s\s- 
tems in the countr^•. The qualit\- oi' the water 
cannot be surpassed, and with a pressure of sixty 
pounds to the square inch, it gives the best possi- 
ble pi-otection against lire. L\ing along the Aroos- 
took ri\ er, a perfect SNstem of sewerage can easily 
be secured, and within easv reach is a waterpower 
by which electric lights, and power for street rail- 
ways and manufacturing, are at her command. 

While broad farms dot her hillsides and \alleys, 
there are beautiful forests to make a \ arying land- 
scape, and without marring its beaut\-, many more 
broad acres ma}- be subdued. 

Iler wealthy farmers, her acti\e, enterprising- 
business men, her able and reliable professional 



iiisi'oKV ():■■ i-()i;i' i"Aii<Fii;Li). 



nu'n, li;i\ c alrcach- laid llic Inundation, and the na- 
tural ck'\ rlopnicnt and pro.spcritN of a lew nmi c 
\cars will sec a li\c, llourishiuLi' and piospei-ous 
cit\. It is littini;- ai:d piopcr. in closiuL;- this liis- 
t())\, to ^i\ e biict' bio^i ajihical sketches, not oidy 
ol" those who laid the foundation, and those who 
are manor boi'n, but of those \\ho are the active 
a'ul sac- cssl'id workers of the present day. 



2 6 



MIsroXY OK FOllV KAIK FIELD. 



ciiai^t]:r xli\'. 

i)i:At()X iiiKAM s'i'i:\r:Ns. 

Iliram Stc\cns ^^'as hovn in tlic town ol Strong', 
now l'^i"anl\lin countw Maine, in April, i(Si,S. IJis 
father rcnio\ ctl to North Salem, and from there to 
^\bbott, I^iseatacj'.iis eountw before his majoritw 

In the winter of iS.^^! and i>S,^(), the dispute in 
i-eo-ai"d to tlie northeast b.oundar\- ha\ in^- eidminated 
in aetual liostibties. he stood three suecessixe dral'ts 
in the town of SanL;'er\ ille, where he had been at 
work I'or about one \ear. Heing- disappointed in 
his hopes of bein<4- hit hv th.e draft, he was lortu- 
nate in tuulin^' or.e cfthe drafted men of that town, 
Mr. Jose}di Parslew w lio did not take kindb' to the- 
exposures and dan^'ers ol' the wai", wlio w<is ^latl 
t()ii-i\e him tiie ma^'nitieent sum ol' twent\- doilai's, 
all in eash and atone pa\-ment, to take his plaee in 
the ranks, and iea\ e him in tlie ]^eaeefid enjoxment 
oi' home, seeure from the exj'xjsure and hardship.s, 
ii' not d;inL',ers. of a iVontier way. 

With the other drafted men he was innr.ediatel \- 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



takiMi to P>:in-or, wIktc tlicir niii.ibcr was m:ulc r.p 
to two hundred nicn. In two da> s tb.cy were start- 
ed lor the Aroostook, under the CMiimand oT Lieu- 
tenant Dunnin^^ their destination beini;- t')wnshii-) 
Letter D. l\in<;- on the hou.ndary line between 
Maine ar.d New Hrunswiek. which is n(;w tiie 
south hall' of the town of Fort b^iirtield. 

There were many weary days oTtraNel throu-h 
damp sr.ow before they arrixed at lloulton, wi.ere 
they were allowed to remain one wliole day. to 
reeei\e militar\- instruetions. One da\'s mareh 
from Iloulton brouiiht them to th.e end cf the road 
in ?kIonticello. 

Vvi>m Montieello they made their way to Prescp/.e 
Lie, throu-h lumber roads wh.ere th.ey could be 
found, and euttini;- temporary roads the rest ol th.e 
way. The soldiers who were sent to Kent Fa.ir- 
lield before this detaehment, went through Patten 
and struck the Anx.stook river at >bisardis, ar.d 
eame down the ri\er on the iee. 

Prescpie Lie \ illa-e at that time consisted ol" a 
sawmill and gristmill combined, a small 1<»-- b.orse 
and framed JKirn or stable. In abor.t one month 
after le.i\ in^ P>an,Li-or an order reached them to dis- 
charge all the driifted men, and secure as many as 
chose to remain as \olunleers, at or.e dolhir |cr 
day. .\ lar-e majoritx" had seen cpiile cnou.uh « I 
the hardships of frontier life, and -ladly availed 
themselves of the opportun.ity to return to their 
homes. 



32^ HISTORY OF FOltT FAIRFIELD. 

^Ir. Stcxcns cast liis lot among the minorit}-, 
and bL'cam'j actively identitied witli the work of 
the \olunteer Torce. 

Those coming imder the hrst and second drafts 
had built a boom across the Aroostook ri\"er, near 
the head of what was then known as BurtselTs 
island, to stop the pine timber that had been cut 
that winter. 

After the militia was disbanded, the ^'olunteer 
force built a large blockhouse on Fort Hill, with a 
heav}' stockade around it, and a small one on the 
site where Mr. Arthur Libb\ 's dwelling house now 
stands, where a six pound brass cannon was 
mounted with grape and cannister to protect the 
boom. This cannon has an unwritten history. 
How it afterwards found its wa\- to h^ort Kent, and 
suddenh- and mwsteriousK" turned up in time for a 
4t]i of ]u\v celebration at Fort Fairfield since the 
late war. and as nu'steriously disappears, onl}' to 
return when the bows decide to celebrate some 
great e\ent, are amjng the mysteries that should 
not be re\ealed in the lifetime of those acti\e in 
the exciting times. 

The entire ser\ ice of tlie boom was conlined to 
stopping timber in the spring of 1839, and that 
timber was nearly all used in building the abo\"c 
named blockhouses. While it is possible at ex- 
treme low water to tind the bottom of one or more 
piers, it would be impossible to determine its ex- 



iiisioRV oi' loiri' f.\iki-ii:li). 



<; 



act locatio:-.. 'l^Iic nearest post office was Houlton, 
and Da\ id B.ibar w.is hired by the \oliir.teers dur- 
ini;- the summer of iS^c) to earr\' the mail. He 
carried the mail on his Ixiek. and made tlie trip 
onee in two weeks. 

The m:)st of the summer of iS,^9 was consumed 
in constructinL;" a I'oad IVom the h'ort to Monticel- 
h). A force ol' ei<;"ht\' men was dixided into two 
crews, and alternate sections from three to fi\e 
miles each were built b\- them. Mr. Ste\ens had 
diari^v ol one of these crews until the road was 
completed \ ia Pres(]ue Isle to Monticello, then he 
was emploxed in buildini^; a bridge across the 
stream at Monticello. While thus eni;a«;"ed, he 
was ordered to *;•() to Fort Kent and take chari;e 
o( building- a blockhouse at tliat point, toiicther 
with buildiuL;- a pier in b^ish i-i\ei". This was com- 
pleted in tlie winter of iSt()-_|.o. 

II is position while emploxed b\ the State L'axe 
him a i:;ood chance to become acquainted with the 
countr\- and 1 -d to Ids dccidinii," to make a larm 
neai" the centre of Letter I) township. IK' fol- 
lowetl the lot line for one and one half miles liom 
the State I'oad into an unbroken wilderness, and 
took two beautiful (piarter sections of land, a lariie 
pait of wliich is now endti'aced in the \aluable 
farms of Messrs. James R. and Reuben Thurlou^h. 
in the Maple (iroxe settlement. 

In iS|2, the acres of tree^ weie felhd. and the 



330 HISTORY OF FOlrr FAIRFIELD. 



i'oilowiiii;" sprino- the land was cleared and put 
into crop. In i^^44 larger ii-npro\ernents had been 
made and a house and barri h;id been erected ; 
and on I"ebruai"\' 23, 1N4:;, he w.is married to 
?iliss Dorcas !>. Whitne\-, dauij,hter oC WilHam 
^Vhitne\, wlio with his famih' h;id n:(>ved ii:to this 
town three or ('our \e:;rs before. 

yiv. Ste\ens was a ::'an oi" great phNsical force, 
of temperate habits, and oi' indomitable will. 
Onh' a I'ew \ears were recjuired to brinj^- out ol' the 
wilderness a beautiful, well culti\;ited i'arm. A 
part Irom the north side had b.een sold to his 
b,rother and passed into other hands, and in 1864 
he sold to a Mr. Ilinklev of Bangcjr, for $2,000, aixl 
with his wife and ^•ouno■ family moved on to a 
new i'arm in the northwest part of the original 
I^etter D plantation. Here he went to work to 
make a larger farm and to add to this a valuable 
mill property. Finding on his farm and land 
adjoining a large amount of cedar timber, in 
1807 he erected a steam shingle mill and at once 
commenced the maufacturing of cedar shingles. 
I'his proved a very successlul operation, and was 
carried o:i successfulK" i'or se^'eral \ears. 

While engaged in this business, in |uh% 1S67, he 
met witii a sad affliction in the death of his wife, 
leaving him with a famih- of nine children, — five 
sons and iour daughters. 

With his ii-rowinii- business interests and this 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 3,31 

]:u'iXc CaniiK-. an carl\' marriau'c became almost a 
neccssit\-, and in )iiiu\ 1S6S. he was uniled for tlie 
second time in marriage to ?*Iiss Sarah A. (jood- 
hue. 

I'^indin^- his milling- operations so successful, and 
his Si)ns disposed to remain \\ith him and help car- 
r\' on the business, he began to look for a more 
desirable location. In i<S79 he succeeded in bu\"- 
ing a most desirable farm on the Aroostook ri\ er, 
where he immediateK' commenced t(; build up his 
present extensi\e and valu;d)le mill propertN-. in 
itSy::^, death for the second time deprixed him ol 
his wife, and again his home is made eouiplete in 
his marriage to ?^Irs, Annabel Ilauim, 

In icSSi he sold his farm and tirst uiill lor $5,000, 
and since that time has been constantK" and suc- 
cessful 1\" engaged in the lumbering aiul uiilling 
business. Here tlie foundation was laid to carrv 
on a business that has united with him his lixe 
sons lor its successful management. 'J'his mo\ e- 
ment called for a large increase of capital, and has 
culminated in ihe building up of one ol' the finest 
and m >st \aluable pi".»niTlics on th-j Ai'oostook 
ri\ ei". 

■riii: s i'rAi:Ns i.lmi'.i:i^ comivwy. 

Tlie Stexens lumber comjianN" was incorporated 
in li^t):;. The pi-opeit\- embraced in this company 
was purchased and built uji In Iliiam Stexens ami 
compaiu'. and has been in successful o]U'ration 



33- HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 

nearly cii;litccn Acars, and consists of a beautiful 
stretch ofinterval on the south bank of tlie Aroos- 
took river nearly one and one half miles in length, 
upon which is located their mills consisting- of 
six shingle machines, one clapboard machine and 
clapboard planer, one "rotarN"' siivr with ii,"ang 
edge, a lath mach.ine and board phuier, all com- 
plete for first class work; the power is a one hun- 
dred and sixt\- horse power engine, a dam at the 
loot.ol an island and boom extending up the ri\er, 
lit up h\ electric lights b\- night lor catching arid 
sorting lumber, making it complete lor a lirst class 
business. In connection with this mill there are 
six hue residences occupied by th.e several mem- 
bers of the tirm. a large boarding house, and 
se\eral houses built for and occupied by men in 
their cmplo}', with all neccessar}- outbuilding for 
storing manufactured lumber, and such farm build- 
ing and stabling as their business ar.d th.e stretch 
of land the\' own rccpiire, making it one of the 
best arranged, best located and most desirable pieces 
of property in the country. In addition to the 
home propert\' the companx' own a large mill with 
one of the best water powers in New Brunswick, 
on Salmon river, where two members of the firm 
arc employed the most of the time. 

The Salmon River mills has two more shingle 
saws, but in other respects is a counterpart of the 
home mill. 



iiis'J'ORV OF Foirr faii<i-ii:li). 



The running- of these mills gives direct em- 
ph)\meril to nintN-loiir men, ;uul in atlch'tion to 
tliese, tile loading of ears, the haiuiling ol liimher 
in the boom, and all other work that neeessaril\- 
becomes a part ol' the business, gi\es emjiloyment 
lor other help. Through tlie winter months the 
se-.uring ol" lumber for their mills gi\es emplox- 
ment to at least three hundred men, besides man\ 
teams. 

That part of the propert\- in this town embraces 
about two hundred acres, the most of which is un- 
der cultixation. 

The companx' consists of Messrs. Iliram Ste\- 
cns, Levi W. Stevens, A. E. Stevens, II. I). Ste\- 
cns and C II. Stexens. The capital stock of the 
compan\- is $100,000. of which $72,200 is paid up. 

Mr. Le\ i W. Ste\ens since his majoritw with 
the exception of six \ears, has rem:iined with his 
father, and i'or the last eightecii \ears has been in 
compan\' with him in business, and now has the 
general management of the Stevens\ ille mills. 

James S. Ste\en<, the second son, has always 
been with his lather, either at work or as a jiarlner 
in busines>, and has the general management c^f 
the .Salmon Ri\er mills. 

A. E. Stexens is in the store, and book-keeper 
and secretary i.w the compan\-, at Stexensville. 

II. D. Stevens occupies a line residence in this 
village, and assists in a general cxersight of their 
extensive business at Stcxensx ille. 



334 HISTORY OF FOIIT FAIRFIELD. 

The y3'.iniJi;cst son received the ad\;int;ii^-es of ;i 
liberal eLUjation. He is a i^-raduate of the ]Nriinj 
wState a;^-ri cultural eolle^-e. lie is at the Salni:);! 
River mills, assisting his brother in their manage- 
ment. 

.Vll tive of these sueeessCul business men have 
v.'iselv chosen the marriage relation, and ha\e de- 
lightful, happy homes and interesting families, with 
ever\- assurance that in the future as at present, 
the\- will fill a large place in the social and busi- 
ness relations of our town. 

AVith schools and religious meetings established 
for those in their emplo^^ Stexensville is one of the 
most order! \- and happ\' neighborhoods to be found 
in man\" a dax's traNcl. 



msroHY ():•• loiri" faii^ ii.i.n. 



LllAPriCR X!A'. 
cAi'i'MN >ii: I'liKx 1!. rA'i'ii:i:. 

SU'plK'ii Inirbank i^ittcc, son of the Rc\.J(»lin 
l^iUcc, was born in 1 loklcrncss. \. II., l'\'briiai-y 
()l.h. iNi;;; when ab(»ut twcKc \c'ai"s okl he was 
lel'l lari;\'l\' to clc)X'iuI upon himself. b'or a tine 
he was emplo\ecl on a sehooner makini;' regular 
tri]")s between Han^or ami Hoston; then h.e was 
emploNed in a baker\' ani.1 eonleetioner, estillisl:- 
ment. 

In iN:>() he maiiied Miss Philenia \\'ai\1 (k.od- 
hue. and soon alter i"emo\ A'd to Aroostook eoni'ity. 
I'^)r a short time he was in business in Ilou.lton. in 
eonij^anv with Timolln b^'isbee. 

Mareh 17. iS:;(), he was a member o!' the l).;!'.- 
L^or rille eomjxanN, and undei" Lieutenant C'olt(»n 
reportt.Hl to tlu- eommamlinL:' ollieer ior iluty. 
b'rom the lirst his abilil\ as a h ailer was reeoi,- 
ni/ed, and lor his entire jH'iiod ol" sei\ iee (» " near- 
I\ a \ear. he hail ehar^c of men and was e:Uri s'.- 
ed with important duties. 

In c\)mm;md at t'.iv upper blockhouse, up > 1 ex- 



33^ HISTORY OF FORT FAIRJ'IELD. 

ploring expeditions, and as deputy slieriff, bis du- 
ties were diseharged faithfully, prudently, and in a 
fearless manner. 

It was not until i<'^43 that we be.^une personally 
accjuainted with Captain l^attee; he was theii en- 
gaged in business at what was then known as 
''down to Pattee's." The sawmill was in opera- 
tion, and he and .Vlbion \\ Haywood had formed 
a eo-partnership imder the tirm name of Pattec 
and IIa\wood. He was then hu-ing the founda- 
tion upon which rested the wonderful social and 
})olitical influence he exercised from i<'^45 to i^^55. 

As a business man, he was not onh' accomm3- 
dating but generous to the poor settlers; as a citi- 
zen he was social and affable; as a politician he 
was an indomitable worker; he was a Whig e^■- 
ei"\- da\- in the ^"eal■, and nc\er lost sight ot an op- 
]K)rtunit\- to win men to his wa\" of thinking. No 
man in Port f^iirlielil \\as a'ppcaled to more fre- 
(|uentl\'. and from none the poor and need\' went 
a\\'a\' with more kind words and material aid. It 
is possibK' tliat his business might ha\e been mv;i-e 
a success, il busiiiess principles, and not charity, 
had been the go\ erning rule. Por all the \ears lie 
was in l-^)rt kairheld, he was devoted to its pros- 
perity he was lo\al to its public interests, he was 
looked up to as a leader, he was honored agi.in 
and again by elections, and appointed to offices, all 
ol' which he tilled with honor to himselF ;i:-.d tb.c i t- 
most satisfaction to all concerned. 



HISTORY OF FGHT FAIRFIELD. 



^^1 



In addition to his co-partnership witli Mr. Hay- 
wood, after Mr. Ila\\vood remo\ed to lloulton, 
the tirni name became Pattee and Hyde. 
HON. iicssic i)Ri:\\. 
The Drew lamiK of England descend iVom an 
early noble Xorman, tracing- the line thronuh cen- 
turies, ^lembers of the family accompanied Wil- 
liam the Conqueror to England, participated in the 
memorable battle of Ilastinos, 1060, and were 
o-ranted lands in l)e\()n, Hereford and elsewhei-e, 
enrolled in the Doomsday book. According to a 
preamble to the Drew pedigree, gi\ en by the kmg 
of Arms, ''the ancient and knightlv lamily of 
Drew of Devonshire are lineal descendants lri)m 
Richard, Duke ol" Normandy, grandfather of Wil- 
liam the Conqueror. Sir Edward Drew was a de- 
scendant of this line. John Drew, the grandfather 
of Sir Edward Drew, emigrated to Plymouth. Mass.. 
in 1660." Hon. Jesse Drew, the son of Stephen 
Drew, a descendent ol" John Drew, was born in 
'Ihnner, Maine. September. 21st. iSoS. where he 
resided during his early life. He was married in 
May. iS^j. to Hannah T. Phillips of Turner, and 
there were boi-n to them H.annah (i.. tleceaseil. 
iM-anklin M.. Delphiua M.. deceased. Anna P.. tie- 
ceased, and (Jeorge E. She died at \\\y\>. August 
27. 1S5J. He marrieil again December ijth.iS^j. 
Clara !>.. daughter of (Jeneral Joel Wellington of 
Monticello. and there were born to them (iertrnde. 






HISTORY OF f(M;t FAIRI^IICLI). 



deceased, and Morrill N. Jlis seeond wife died 
at Fort l^iirtield Oct. id. iSgy. lie died in Lew- 
iston at tlie residenee oi' his son, (\)]. I'^r.mk M. 
Drew, Adjust ,^ist, i Sgo, 

Vov riearl\- a hali' eeritiir\- lie was a prominent 
eiti/en. l"^)r man\- \ears lie \v;is a denutx' sheriff 
in the town of Turner, and then deput\- sheriff and 
jailer at Palis. in iN::;^ lie received an appoirit- 
nient in tlie lan.d olllce and nioNcd to Letter II, 
now Caribou; he Svjon lornied a j'.irtnership witli 
lion. W'ash.in^ton Loni;-, and with him carried on 
at Letter II, and subsecpieritK' at I'^)rt I'^iirtield, 
tile lumhei- business, until the app( ir.tment of T^Ir. 
Lon<4" as collector of customs at Lastport in iS6i. 
In June, 1S6:;, he was appointed deput\- collector 
of customs at I*^)rt Fairfield, and continued in this 
oriice for sixteen \ears. He represented the I'^ort 
I'^iirlield district in the legislature lor the \'ears 
iS(S^^-S|. This ser\ ice concluded his public career, 
extending o\ er a period of more tlian forts' ^■ears, 
and it c:\n be truth i'ull\- said, '"lie was a ^ood and 
faithful serwmt;" he w.is pleasant, eilicient and 
honest, considerate alike of the duties he owed the 
public and the authorit\- which he serxed. Folit- 
icallw ^\v. I)i-e\v was a Democrat until the forma- 
tion of the Republican partw which he tlien joined, 
and e\er adter contimied to sup-i^ort. In the I'jest 
sense of the word he was a born ]iolitician; he 
lo\ed the stud\- and practice of j^olitics, not so 



IIISrORV OI-" l-Oi-J'l' rAIKI'lFJJ). 



3,V) 



mucli for tlic rowaid in tlic acquisition of otficc, as 

the plcasui-c and i^ratilication it alTordcd his cncjiiir- 
ini^- mind, and the oppoitunitx' it af'l'ordcd liim to 
jiromotc his ]-)()litical \ icws and aid his Iricnds. 
Tliis k'tl him to become a ch)sc stiulcr.t of men 
and mcasui-cs, and I'cw men better understood than 
he. how men are politicalK' intluenced. and how 
more skilfullN' \o bi-in^- lo pass desired ends. I lis 
lidelitN- and acti\ it\- in th:e supj^/ort of h.is Criends 
i^ave Iiim a hir^e and intlu.ential ac(iaintancc 
th)-ou^hout the Slate. He was jiai'ticularly inter- 
ested in the welfare and promotion of youn^" men; 
and to his kindl\- su^^-estions and intlnence not a 
lew men owe their earl\' political success. 

M •. D.cw w.i; a ivihlic spirited mi:i; h-> al- 
wa\s identilietl himself with the place in which he 
resided, antl took Li'reat interest in its growth and 
prosperity lie was \ er\- much attached to the 
town olForl h^iirrield and its inhabitants; he was. 
duiini; the man\- \ears he resided there, deeply in- 
terested in e\ ei\ thiuL;- that j-iromised lo contribute 
to the Lirowih. jirosjU'riU' and advancement ol the 
\ illai^e. I K' was ;'.c'i\ e in inducing- the New Bruns" 
wick rail\va\- companx' lo exteiul its road to 1" ort 
b^iirlield; active in ha\ inu" sidewalks buill. anil 
trees set out to adorn the streets, and for many 
\ears these will testif\ to his public spiiit ami 
lorethouLihl. 

Ml-. l)i-ew hatl a leual mind, and had h.e turn.ed 



34« 



HISTORY OF I-Olrr FAIRFIELD. 



to the law in his earlier ^■ears, he would easily 
ha\e taken i-ank with tlie leading- la\v\ers of the 
State. Ihe eoint room had e\er <i,reat ;ittraetions 
Cor him, and his jiid<i,'ment and wise eounsel were 
eonstanth' sought b\' man\- of his townspeople. 
For one ol" so i^reat knowled<;e an.d experience of 
men. Mr. Drew was o\ er iiiodest; he underesti- 
mated his own abilities, and henee oeenpied a less 
)')r()minent position in tn,' State than his nate.rrd and 
acquired capabilities entitled hini t ). 

Vov man\' \ears lie was easiU" the most prominent 
citizen of this town, and Car and wide he was kn(;wn 
as ''Uncle Jesse" — the term being, in his ease, a 
title of alTection and respect, iittiuLdN" applied arid 
beeomingh' won. In religious beliel' he was a 
l^ni\ ersalist. and was lo\al to his denomirsation. 
The unixersal lo\ e and fatherhood of God took 
hokl of his heart and showed forth in his pure life 
and sympath\- for humanit\-, and his deep lo\e for 
his friends and famil\-. He was an lionorable man ; 
he detested low cunning and artifice; his moti\"es 
will bear the lull light ofmld-dax': he was charita- 
ble in his judgment of others* a.cts and tolerant of 
others' opinions ; he was gentle, simpleand courte- 
ous in manners: he was sociable and agreeable, 
and loxed the eompan\- oi' the \oung. and until the 
last, lived in the present instead of the past. Ilis 
last years abounded in graceful contentment ar.d 
enjoxiuent; although his sight was dimmed, an.d he 



IIIbTOKV OF FOKT I'AIl-J FI i:i>l). 



.U> 



was deprived of the privilcuc of rcadin.^" and cor- 
rcspoiidciicc, whicli had been a i^rcat ]->lcasiirc to 
liim, he did not allow tlic darkness to cloud his 
liiV. lie bra\cl\- bore the intirmities ol' a_L;e, and 
accepted, uncomplainingly, the «;radrial wearini;- 
a\va\- o!' his bo:lily stren'^-cli, until at 1 ist, at tlrj 
riin- a'^e o!" more than fourscore years. ne\ er uK^re 
lo\ ed and respL'cted, in t!ie honij of liis son, as 
he wished it, his li!e work eiuled and all its hajijii- 
njss enjoNj.l, t!ij ii i d simu);-)^ canu t) him, 
and "death smiled upon him, as smiles silent and 
p.viceCul ni,n-ht upvA t!ie e ihausted laborer." 
Till: iiAiN::s family. 

josep'n Winsiiite Haines was born in Ilallowell, 
Maine, in 1S04. and was a member c^l" the I laines 
Tamil \- of Kennebec and Oxford counties, aiul a 
lii'st cousin of Hon. (jeorue h\ans. 

In i^'iS he married Miss Mary Uri^^gs of Win- 
throp. In 1.S47 he mo\ ed to ''the Aroostook" with 
liis famiU oftwelve children ; two ( a pa-r of twin<) 
were born after they canne here. lie bou.nht of 
I'^reeman I'dlis. ]r., th- kind from which he ma.le 
t!ie celebra.ted Haines farm in Ma]->le (iro\e. He 
obtained a ^rant oTIar.d from tlie State and built a 
mill where the Bryant mill now stands, that was of 
i^ieat ber.el'it to the early settler^, he ha\ in^i^: 
the means to c-mploy considerable help; he 
b.- )-u^'U \-a!.i:i'^lj impro^•c.l sto:k into the county, 
;j!ul v.as an enterprisin'r. proirressi\e larnicr, and a 



34^ 



iiisroi^v OF F()i;r fairI'^ieij). 



mcnihcr of the a^Ticullural socictx-, of which he 
^\';ls a succcsslul ;iiul ciricicnt prcsiilciit ; he was al- 
so a siieeesst'iil and popular nieniber oC the State 
board oC aLrieultiire. I)\in^ in iNy6, at the a;j,e oC 
se\"ent\-tw'o \ears, hie lelt a hir^e i'aniil\-, which 
has occupied too hii'L;"e a phice in l'^)i"t h^aiiiield to 
receixe a passing' notice. 

Lydia K., the eldest of tlij l"aniil\-, at the ai^-j 
of tw'ent\', ni irried ('ale!') Ellis. S!ie liad ni ide 
the best possible use ol' her oppoilunities to se- 
cure an education, antl was a successf'ud school 
teacher. She lilled the position as tlie wife of an 
itinerant iNIethodist ministei". both in the b'.nst Maine, 
and Miclii_Li"an conferences. She loxalK- iollowed 
her husband to the south, and cared for him in his 
sickness. She was a true wife and mother, de- 
A oted to her famil\' and friends. She died in h^llis- 
\ille. South Dakota, Iul\- 7th, iSSf), and was kiid 
beside two of hei" children, who had L;'one belore, 
in the Libert\- cemeter\- in r^Iichiian. 

AbiL;"ail, the second child, left hrnu in her 
carl\- womanhood, and went to .Massachusetts. 
She subsec|uentl\- married. She has been dead for 
se\eral \ears. 

llenr\- .\. w.is hi)rn in Ibdiowelb Abun.\ i.i 
iS^^^. In 1S54 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Mar\" Krar'ces Knight, and to them were born 
three children. ]Mrs. Adda Ma\" Richardson, in 
Penns\hania, William A., proprietor of the saw 



IIISrOKN' OI" I'ORT FAIKKllilJ). 



.U3 



iiiul Lii-istniill in this \ illa^c. and Kla !>.. who makes 

luT llollU' witli lu'l" lllotluT. 

Mr. I laiius w as lai-m.-l\ cnuaucd in the r.iill busi- 
ness, aiul in iN()S. Ik- b(nii;lU llu- sawmill al tlx- 
lowci- \ illaux". In iS.Si, in companx with hisson. 
William A., he boniiht the mill piixilcue antl rc- 
Iniill the gristmill, where lie was ;t.eti\ely enuaLied 
until t'le time of his death, in Mareh. i SS(). I le si:- - 
eeeded in building' i;p a i^cod propeity, and iixed 
and died lespeeted b\ all wlio knew him. 

(leor^e \\'., soon alter his majoiitN, bought lilty 
aeres IVom the home farm, and nKiii ied a w ife. 'I'o 
them wei"e born two ehildien; or.v died in his early 
manhood, the otiu-r married Mi". I. II. Kii)i\ ar.d is 
r.ow li\ inu' oi. the old homestead, \\ here sh,e was 
born, Mr. I iair.es making- his hon'.e with his dauiiii- 
ter aiul son in law. lie was I'oi- iiiany yeais th.e 
Maple (ir()\e j-xstmaster, has lilletl se\eral town 
olhees, and is a resp-eeted eiti/.en. 

Mar\, the thiitl dauuhtc']-, mariied Auuistr.s 
RaeklilT, and died in iier early womaniiocd. 

John W. has been a i'.aicl workinL:', ii-.di sti i(»i s 
and prosp.eror.s larmer. Death has a,Lain aiul a^.-.in 
\isileil his Ikhu-; lie is n(.w li\ inu' with his tliiul 
will', upon his farm on the north sii'e < 1 th.e n\er. 
Mr. Haines lias alw;i\s ritaii'.ed hi^ rtsicViAe m 
this tow n. 

Daniel W. llaine> scon after his maj( iit\ eniisl- 
eil in the i st Maine ea\-ali'> . He was a iv.CLit ex- 



.^44 



HISTORY OF I'^OltT FAIRJ'IELD. 



ccllcnt soldier, and able to do almost uninterrupt- 
ed dut\-. lie eame home ^vith health impaired, and 
a few \ears elosed his earthh- eareer. 
. Xane\-, the Fourth daughter, married AV;irren C. 
riummer. He was an offieer in the 15th ^Nlaine 
rei^iment. The\- went to Penris\hania. where she 
died, lea\ ino- two daughters. 

.\lbert L. was also in the ist ^klaine eavalr\-; he 
was wounded, his horse killed, and he was taken 
]:>ris()i"ier ;it Branxhwine Station in 1S63. After 
three weeks he was pa.roled, and after several 
months he was exelFUiii'ed ; he tlien joined his reg'- 
ment and ser\ed to the end of the war, I-n i^'47 
he married Miss ?yhir\- L., daughter oF Ilenrv C 
and Mar\- Currier. !n 1N74 he bouglit of his fa- 
tlier tlie eelehrate:! Haines I'arm in INIaple Gro\ e, 
where he h;is resided until the present time. His 
daughters are both married; the oldest to ^lr. Em- 
mons W. Houghton, and the oth.er to \Iy. II. D. 
Stexens, and ha\e hne homes in this town. ^..'^r. 
Haines is a sueeessful Farmer, a respeeted eitizen, 
an acti\ e member of the agrieultural soeietv, iw d 
has been a member of tf.e State board of agricul- 
ture, and was appointed hv Cj'ov, I'odwell to tl:e 
l'arme)\s" national congress at Chicago in 18S6. 

b^'ank II. was boiMi in Hallowell in 1844, ♦^'^■'^^' ''^ 
1S67 was married to ()li\e, daughter oF Herir\- C. 
and Marx L'urrie)" ol f^;rt b^iiiiield. I'o th.em lia\"e 
In^en born thrc^- children, two s.oiis aiul a dr.U'^ihtcr. 



HISTORY OF FOl!T KAlR l-I ICI.F). 



M? 



Six \cars a^o death came, taking- the eklcst son, at 
the a<4"e ol sixteen. The otlier son antl claii^litei", 
to^etlier with his in\alitl wile, m ike up his laniilx . 
His beautiful and attraeti\e home is opposite the 
(jraniie halL in the centre of this town. Mr. Haines 
is in the IVont i"aid<: ol" successful faiinei's, and in 
the possession of a \alual)le farm propert\- and the 
cnjoxment of the fiuiits ol" his toil and L\'ood man- 
a^ement. 

.Vboat o;ie lialf milj soutli of his twin brother 
b^-ank. ma\- be Ibund the home of i'^'cd Haines. 
.\t the ai^e oi" twent\-, with two brijthers in the 
armw when a married brother was hit b\" the draft 
he ri-eel\' took his place. 

Jlis tirst business \enture was to bu\' the farm 
he is now on. For a time he wa-^ in the millini;' 
business. 

In 1S72 his wife and cliildren were reniox ed bv 
death. In i''^75 he mariied Miss I'>mma Thuilouiih. 
He is in possession ol all that makes up a haj">p\'. 
pro.sperous, ar.d successfid laini home. He has 
invented a \aluable jiiece of fariii machinery and 
is a reliable, independent farnu-r who has made 
lile a success. 

Marcella Haines died when about ten \ears old. 
'i'heodore I). Haines, after his majoritx" went to 
Michigan, and then to IVnnsxhania where he died 
se\ eral years a_s::(). 

Isadore I). Haines is unmarried and en^aLcd in 
mission.ars' work in the foreiL^ii lields. 



34^> 



iiisroRV OF i-oirr fairfii:!,!). 



\vii.i.ia:m joiixs'pon. esc)^. 
'I'hc parcMils of \\'illiani Johnston i-cnio\ cd in 
liis earl\- chiklliood iVoiii Maine on to the St. )ohn 
ri\ or a few miles abo\ e h'rederieton. Ilere he 
li\ed with his parents, enjo\in<4- siieh pri\- ilexes as 
the new eounti\- af't'orded. until he heeaine of" aj^e. 
Soon after his majoiit\- he went on to the ^lira- 
niichi waters and eni^a^'ed in luniberinjj,-. While 
there he beeanie aecpiainted with Sarah Sutherland, 
and soon after the\- were married. Xot bein<i' 
satisfied with the eounti"\- he deeided to return to 
the land of his natixitw of whieh he knew nothini;- 
sa\ e what his parents had told him. Alter \ isitini;' 
his parents on the St. jolui rixei". he deeided, 
aeeompanied b\' his wile and a friend, to make the 
trip b\- water. A boat was bought ol a size tliat 
two men eould earr\- o\ er the poi'ta^es. and around 
the falls. I ki\ iriL'' it hauled to the vSehc^odic waters, 
the\' embarked ; following" the ehain of lakes, eross- 
in^-to the Haseanhe<2,un, dcnvn the Mattawamkeaii,", 
up the west bi'aneh of the IV-nobscot. carr\ in<;" it 
aeross into Moosehead lake, then down the Ken- 
nebec to the mouth of the Sand\' ri\ er. Here he 
located a home, and for nearl\ hfteen \ears en- 
^•aned in farming- and in bu\ in^:,- and dri\ in<4' work- 
ino' oxen fi-om tlie Keiuiebec to Miramichi. In 
iS:>o he exchanged his larm foi" pi'ojU'rtN' in \\ Ood- 
stock. and some fixe \ears later sold and remoNcd 
on to the Aroostook ri\er. and selected a location 



HISTORY ()!•' l-^ORT l\\ I IU'H:i.li. 



^^7 



on the south side ol" the river near the liead of the 
Reach. lu'f'oi-e \>>^<-) he liad cut a road Iroiii his 
place lo the mouth olllie Lo\el\ hrook. and in tliat 
\ear. upon the arri\al ol tlu- land a^enl and the 
posse, he was probahh the onl\ man on the lower 
Aroostook, N\ ho had an\' s\ iiipaliu' with the Ameri- 
can L,o\ einmeiU. As soon as ibrmai possession 
was taken and a militaix' post was established, lie 
j")romptl\ exchanued his propert\' with Jacob Weeks 
and secured the ri\er front, from a short distance 
abo\ e the Canadian Pacitic depot to the (iellerson 
corner, Jlis house was located neaiK' where Thos. 
l-'isher s res'dence now stands, I le at once opened 
a public house, and this was tlie onl\' jmblic liouse 
in this townshij") for sexeral \ears. 

lie was a man calculated lo make warm person- 
al friends, and althouiih he kept a public liouse. it 
was ol'ten turned into a charitx hospital: while 
those who were able weie expected to pa\' their 
waw his door was nexer closed against those \\ ho 
were withoiit mone\' or in distress. Mr. Johnston 
was at an earl\- da\" apjiointed justice olthe peace. 
1 lis business in this line, howe\er. was mostly con- 
tined to the occasional mai"r\ inLi' <•' a couple: what 
few ihsjTutcs that did occur were mostl\ amicably 
settled, and the otheis Iw a knockilown argument. 
\\ ithoul justice, jud^e or juroi-. 

Alter man\ chaniies had come and the intlinii- 
ties of (»U1 a^e were t.ikinL!' holtl upon him, he sold 



34*^ - HISTORY OF FOlrr TAIUFIELD. 

Ill's home and lived with his dani>-htcr, T^Trs. yi. A. 
Eastman. In i860, his estimable wife siekened 
and died, and in X()vembeiMS64, the eall eame and 
he jiassed nxcr to join those who had ooiie 011 be- 
fore. William and Sarah Johnston were in the 
strietest sense pioneer settlers, both upon the Ken- 
nebej and .Vroostook rivers, experiencing- a full 
share of the hardships and pri\ati()ns knov/n and 
realized in such a life. 

Tn them were born nine children: one died in 
infancy, Charles W. Johnston in his earl\- manhood, 
and E!liza Burpee at lier liome in Cjrand Falls, N, 
I)., leaxinii' a husband and a L;,rown up son and two 
daui;-hters. There are now li\ini;"in Fort b^airtield 
the six femaining children. \i/. : Warren A., ?^Irs. 
a\Iar\- Waite. now li\ in^- with her dauiiiiter, ?>Irs. 
Sarah j. Libln-.—^frs. Frances E. Ellis, ^Irs. S. 
e'aroline l^stabrook, ?^Irs. A. C. Paul and Mrs. 
Margaret A. Eastman. 

GEX. VIARK TRAK'i'OX. 

.VmonLi" those identihed with the earl\- settle- 
ment of Xortliern ^Vroostook, was (jcn. ^lark Tral- 
ton, who came fi-om ]>ani;'()r to Vovi Fairtield in the 
snmmer ol' 1843. (icn. Trafton had been a person 
of prominence in the Sl;ite before that time. Tak- 
ing- up his residence in I^angor when ver^• ^•()ung^ 
he was at once engai^ed in actixe business, and tilled 
man\- important olhcial stations. He was captain 
of a company of ca.\a!r\- in acti\e serxice in the 



HISTORY oi' roirr fairkield. 



349 



war of iSij, .iiul shoi-tlx- alter tlie- war \N'as made a 
bri^^"adior-i;"enciaI ; he represeiited his chslrict in 
the <i"er.eral eorit in Boston, before the separation 
from Massasjhusetts, and afterwards in tlie State 
legislature ; he acted as hiiul aiient for the eastern 
and northern, section of the State belore the oHice 
was rei;niarl\- established at Bangor; he was also 
postmaster at J^an^^or from 1N2S to 1S40, and at the 
time of his appointment to the b\)rt b^aii'field cus- 
tom h()-.!se, was a member of the cit\- i:,-o\ ernment 
at Bangor. .Vs the Ignited States trooj^s were re- 
mo\ed at the time of his ai")poiritment as custom 
house ofhcer, h.e was j^laced in chai'ue of the .u"o\- 
ernment propert-N- at this pd;ice, ar.d also intru.sted 
with other important duties b\- the laiul a^ent. lie 
seemed to ha\e dischar;;ed the \arior.s duties to 
th.e s;\tisf;iction of ih.e i;-o\ eriiment, and the peo]")'e 
as well, for he was sent as a iepresentali\e to the 
legislature from tlie b^)rt b^airtield district, which 
then included all Northern Aro(!Stoo'k, after a 
ch.ani^e in th.e naticnal administration had rcliexed 
him from his duties as collector. 

frwHi th.e first (j'en. Trafton was strongly im- 
pressed with the auricultiiral possibilities of Aroos- 
took, and had _<;reat faith in its future, llow well 
that faith h;is been jislitied, (ar j-rescnt llourishinii 
communit\- well attests. 

lie was inst: omental in starlinLi' the I'lrst ^-eftle- 
l in llic tlKMi wildcrii nship ol I. 



35^^ 



lIISrOI^Y ():•' FOIM' FAll^FlKlJ). 



now LiiiTjstonc, l'iirnisliini>- the caj'jital to build the 
lirst mills, and in connection with I>. I). P^.iStman, 
\v!io was afterwards joined In' (t. .\. Xourse, car- 
ried on an extersix e business Cor some \ ears, and 
laid the foundation f'oi' the preseiit lh)urishinLi' n il- 
la^e and town of Limestone. 

When the intii-mities oi" age precluded labor, the 
genei'al returiied to Bangoi\ where he diet! in i''^57, 
and was bui'ied in the l'amil\- lot at ?\b)unt Hope, 
witli militar\- and masonic honoi's. 

He held a warm ]dace in the hearts of all the 
first settlers of the town. Man\- of them remem- 
bered with gi'atitude, his words of encouragement, 
and his substantial aid in tiding o\er a hard place. 
DAMiCL i.ii;i;Y. i:s(4^. 

.\mong the pioneers in Aro.st )ok, tlie name of 
Daniel Libln' should ha\ e a permanent place. He 
was born in \Vinsl()w, Me., March 25th, ib'05, ar.d 
at the age of twent\--fou.r remoxed to Houlton; al- 
ter remaining there ten ^•ears, in i<^4.^ he cinr.e 
to Fort I'^urlield, and here both Mr. Libb\- and his 
I'amih" made man\' lifelong friends. In i!^47 hv de- 
cided to remove to Hradford. Maiia, the eld- 
est daughter, had married Maak 'I'rafton < f 
Limestone', and other members of the lamih' had 
formed associations that were in the tuture to idimti- 
i'v theni with our countw Mr. Libb)- only re- 
mained a short time in Bradford, and then remo\ ed 
to Limestone, wdiere the remainder of his da^■s 



HIStORY OK FORT FAIRrlKLU. 



35^ 



were spent. He was a respeeted and intliiential 
eili/en. Tw iee he was elected to ser\ e the jx-ojile 
ol his ilistiMet in the State lei;ishitiire : time al'ler 
time he was elected to town offices, and lor many 
\ears was postmaster of Limestone. 

Mr. Libln went on throui^di life makini:,- f'rientls, 
because he was fViendlw lie was a useful, woi'tlu- 
and reliable citi/en. respected b\ all w ho knew him. 

He died at the residence of his s )n, .\m(js 15. 
Libln in l''oi-t I'\iirlield. October ,:;d. iS6S. 

He mai'ried twice, and was the father of Iwehe 
children. Llis dauL^hters married well, and his 
sons ]")r()\'ed worllu and respected citi/ens ; one ol 
them. Mr. .Vnios !>. Libb\, was born while lie was 
making- his home in l''oi1 l-'airtield, Maich 4th, iS.|h. 
\\'hen about ei^'hteen \ears of a^e he enteietl the 
store of Hon. Isaac 1 lacker as clerk. Mere he re- 
mained lor nine \e:ii"s, faithful and in the full con- 
lidence ol" his emplo\ers. Then he became a part- 
ner in the business with Mi'. J. \\ 1 lacker, under 
the lirm name of Hacker and Libby. In iN;,^ he 
was married to Miss Sarah |. W'aile: this union 
was a hapin- one, he pro\ini4' a kind and loxin^i;" 
husband ami father, a irood citit/.en ami an uprii^ht 
and honorable man. All who came in contact 
with him felt the intluence of his puw and noble 
character. .\fter ei-htc-en months ol ijradually 
failinLj health, on the 5th day of June, 1887, he went 
to join cUildicii, father, infRhcu ari.d iVicub who had 



3S^ 



HISTORY OF roirr fa-iri'ield. 



f^onc before, le.ivin^- a widow and three lo\in^' eliil- 
dren. two daughters and a son, |erre, why is prcn- 
iiiiz; a J4"reat comfort aiid blessini'; to hi i motlier and 
sisters. He (graduated Frv)ni t!ie Fort b'airfield hii^'h' 
school in 1891, and is now parsidni;- a colk\:4"iate 
C')".n'se in B )wd:)in colle^'j, with e\ers- pr;)spe:L of 
a happ\', prosjTcrons and in!"]ue;iti'il fcture bcdorc 
ir 11], 

'rili-: I'ARSON.S FAMILY. 

Le\i Parsons, yo.in_;-„v5L child of J jh 1 Par/ons 
aiul Polly Parsons, was born in Canton, Me., Dec. 
23th, 1023. lie was oi\-{jn the name of his uncle, 
his father's bi\)t!ier, Pe\i Parson.s, wh(; was a prom- 
ineiit clerLiAman and re\i\alist, in the st;ite of New 
i i r.iipshire. One of the earl\- histories ol" New 
Hampshire spoke of this clerii-\-man as a leading 
.di\In2 (jf thj siite an 1 a grj.it preulrj;-. He is 
i)ndoul)tedly tlie same di\ine to whom ex-\h'ce 
President Morton's m(;thier w;is related, as the l;i- 
(;gi-aphy of y\r. Morton sa^■s that h.e was named 
Le\ i Parsons >.[orton for his mother's brother, a 
former emineiit elei'g\niian (;!' New Hampshire. 
This braneli of the famil\- of Parsia^s canie from 
En<!;la!id in thiC e;irl\- da\s of t!ie colonies, settled 
ill Xew Hampsldre aiul extei-ded ii-.to M;issachr.s- 
etts :\n'A New \'ork, wdiile a portion came to the 
then ]")i-o\ iiice (h' >daip.e. 

joh 1 1 ;;r;ons was boi'n in Xew Hp.mpsldre, bnt 
spjnt fu' e.irl\- ]iart (.)!' his life in L'.imbridge, Mass., 



ntSTORV OF i-oi'.T FAiRiii:r.i). 



:5.1 



when lie c:\n\c t;> Oxlorcl county in t'nis st:\tc; here 
1k' nianicd Polly 1 lar.nircrcl To thcni were born 
ten ehildren, Le\ i l^irsor.s, tl'.e subject of tb.is 
sketch, b.-ins;- th.e youno-cst. 

Le\i's pare-.-.ts, wlien h.e was a small boy, moved 
rrnm Oxford to S:;nrer\ ille, Piscataquis cor.r.ly, 
where he -rew to m:i-.hr(-d. I Ic attended the pr.b- 
lic schools in San.L.erviile <\v.d F(Xcroft, complet- 
ino- his education at Foxcroft academy. He was a 
classmate of ihe'late-Mon. A. G. Febroke of b^:x- 
crolt, who remembered him well :.s a brdliar.t 
youn-- man ol'tine intellect, noble character. an:k.i- 
tiousl and a leader in all his classes. Thus pc.sscs- 
sino- a liberal education for these days, which he 
continually added to in alter life, he had at bns 
comm.aixl a rr.re fund ( f inforn^ation up(.n nearly 
all subjects of impcrtar.ce. His interest in educa- 
tion il matters proved c f pxat value to his family 
ol" children when lie settled in a new neiyhb(.rhc.(.d 
remote from schools. 

While vouj-.u" Levi was iinishini!: V.is education m 
Foxcroft, th.e spirit of migration Vwis lakin,^- some 
of the older citi/.ens of his nei.'.ihb(Mh(^(;d to tlie new 
settlement in the northern part of the State, called 
I'^ort Fairlield. Amonu- these was b^recman Ellis, 
the r/.iiler at Sa.n-erville villagv, or Carlcton's 
Mills, as it was then called. Mr. KHis, also of Pu- 
ritanical stc^ck, bein- a descendant of (^cvernor 
l^n.T'.-rd and Dr. b'uller of the Plymo/th colony. 



354 HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIFT/D. 



possessinii' somethino- ol'the spirit oradvcnturc and 
j^liick ofliis early ancestors, started with liis fam- 
ily, a jiioneer, into tlie wilderness oi" northern 
iNIaine, making a ''elearinii" at Maple Gro\e, in 
the present thriving town of Von l^^airtield. Pre- 
A ious to Mr, I'^llis lea\ ing Sangerville, however, 
Le\ i had become acquainted with the miller's 
daughter, I^ydia, a brilliant Noung lad\ of line char- 
acter and personal charms. Lydia set about her 
work with zeal in the new countr\', laboring to 
make pioneer lile more like that of the older town 
from which she had gone, and collecting the set- 
tlers' children, taught the tirst school ever held on 
what was called the ''center road" in Fort Fairlield. 
Ker pioneer work was comparative! v short, as Le- 
\ i followed in a lew vears, and, renewing his ac- 
quaintance, they were married in I'ort 1-^airtield, 
June 7th, 1S4S. They then took their long, diffi- 
cult journey back to Sanger\ille. Here they re- 
sided until 1S60, when the\- mo\ed with their fam- 
ily of lour boys to I'ort I'airtield, to establish a per- 
manent home in the Aroostook \alle\-. He soon 
Ibund a desirable location on a new farm in the ad- 
joining plantation, now Kaston, on the stage route 
Irom I'ort b^airtield to Iloulton. 

Jlere the remainder of his davs were spent, on 
the larm in Kaston. A tirst-class mechanic, he 
worked in his carpenter shop when not engaged 
on the farm, thus gi\ing his bo\s the advantage of 



HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. ;^:,^ 



■A trade which {hvv used to i^-ood cITcct in stai'tini;- 
in life. An iiuetcratc worker, he was larmcr or 
car}XMUcr durino- tlie da\-, and teacher lor liis chd- 
dren in the lono- winter evenings, until tliey weie 
laro-c enouiih to i^o awa\' to school, when he woukl 
sacrifice e\'er\ thini;' to keep them there. carin<4- less 
for accumulating- propertN" than Tor s^ix ini;" his chil- 
dren an education and proper tiainiiiLi" lor the bus-' 
iness of life. Neither did he neglect their spiritu- 
al traininLi'. A devout Christian himself, he sur- 
rounded his famil\' with reIi;Lii(nis intluence. and 
long- before the new settlement could boast ol a 
schoolhouse, religious services were fre(|uently 
held at his house on the Sabbath day. 

Alwa\s courteous and thoughtl'ul ol the wellare 
of others, he was a good neighbor, kind husband 
and dexoted lather. As a citi/en he was always 
right on all moral (piestions. and liis intluence lelt 
where he resiileil. Not possessing a strong con- 
stitution, however, cleariiig the lorcsl and making 
a new farm proved too much Inr him piiysically. 
and becoming broken dow n in health he died at 
his home in ICaston. March ist. \Sqn. lie dieil as 
he had lived, in the faith, and nil felt at his death 
that a good man had jiassed away. |-'.si-)eciallv do 
his children remember his tireless enei-gv in iiistill- 
inginto their voung minds mnial and religious les- 
sons, and the jiossibilities ol" the I'uture; the long- 
winter eveniiiL:- lessons of both lather and mother 



,r?(^ 



lILSTOHV OF Four lAJRFiFLi). 



between the long intcr\-als of sehoolin^* in that pi- 
oneer eoiinlrN- arc rememb,erecl with deepest o-rati- 
tiide. Such men and women at tlie heads of fam- 
ih'es go far to nuke us as apeople wliat we are — sell- 
reliant, energetic, and in man\- i-espcets the noblest 
nation upon earth. 

The children of Le\ i and L\dia P.irsons were, 
T.e\ i Lendall Parsons, born at Sangcrx ille, ^daine, 
Januar\- 14th, i<S5o. lie married Miss Lottie 
Parsons of Iviston, Maine, Septend^er iitli, TN70. 
She died at Jloulton, r\Iainc, No\ember 9th, 
1S70, andhc married Laura St. L'lair at l^ath, ^Nlaine, 
Ma\' 2 2d. i''^74- He has been one ofthe most suc- 
eessFid master builders and mcjlianies iii New 
Paigland, and has also been engaged in the whole- 
sale and retail lumber bu.siness. and is now largely 
interested as an owner and ollicer in an important 
electric compai'iW lie resides in Boston, and is a 
jM-ominent business man in that citw 

b'reeman Kendall Parsons, born at Sanger\ ille. 
Me., Ma\' 17. 1S5T, died at P^aston, Septendu-r 10, 
i<S64. 

A\dllis Ellis Parsop.s. boiai at Sangei-\ille, ?^Iay 
i6th, iS^^^, was married to Miss Agnes Gilman, 
A'oungest daughter of R. ]). (lilman, P"sq., ol Fox- 
erolt. Me., October 23, IcSqo. TL^ is now a prom- 
inent lawxer of the State, practicing at P^)Xcroft, 
where he resides. A briei" sketch of his life is gi\'- 
en elsewliei'c in this book. 



HISTOKY ():•' rOKI' FAIKIMICLD. 



.■>."^ / 



Jolr.i Wilbur Parsons, born at SaiiLTcrxillc Dc- 
CLMiibcr ()th, i^^S-!' '."iiarriL-d Miss A unit.- lUiiIciuh al 
Clirtondalc, Mass., )iiiu' i^lh. iNt^j. Tlu'x now re- 
side at Clit'tondalc, where he is siieeessluiU' en- 
gaged in t!ie retail Iiniiber business, lie is also a 
ver\- superior nieelianic. 

Clarenee \'anderl\-n Parsons, born at Sangei'\ ille 
Jainiar\- iN, 1N57, was educated for tlie niinistiy, 
completing his education at the theological semin- 
ary at Stanll)rd\ille, on the Hudson, He is a suc- 
cessful, growing ]")reaeher, and a young man ol'abil- 
\l\\ He mar-ried Lida I"'.. Xorlhrop, at Lake\ille, 
N. v., b\'bruar\-, iNN^:;. 'bheii- cliikhen are X'erna 
.Vgnes and Leon L. Paisons. He is ncjw located 
at Lubec in this state. 

Liz/ie L'. Pai'sons, born at b'ort b'aii^held, July 7, 
1861, Jii;iri-ied l-'i-aiik I )eLaite, Jain;;ny 2d, iNjt^, at 
Kaston, Me. 'J"he\- now reside at L'lil'tondale. near 
Boston, Mass., and she is the happ\ mother of two 
bright chikh-en, Willis b]llis Delaile, born at b'as- 
t;)n XoN ember (>th, iS'^o, and Maude Angela, b()ri\ 
December (;th, i .SS >. 

Leslie L. Parsons, b>)]n at lOaslon Jur.e i(\ iNoo, 
thj \;)iingest in the It'.iiilw is lioW engaged suc- 
ccssIulK' in IjHJsiness 1" )r himseli", also at C'lil'lon- 
dale, he being last, bu' n.ot least, in a family which 
remains true to its eirl\- teachings anil represents 
in its uK-mbers nobilit\ (»|" character, tem]">erance 
ail sob:ict\-. Here L\ di.i Kllii Pars-jus. widow 



35^ HISTORY OF Four fairfil:ld. 



of Lc\i Parsons, at present makes her borne, hap- 
p\- in bein^- surrounded b\' lier children, her t'anii- 
]\-, I'eared in Northern .Vooostook with sueli care, 
ni()therl\ anxiet\' and j">ra\ert'ul tenderness, pro\ - 
iuL;- in return a blessinq in her deebnini;- years. 
CAl''r. KIJ'.HIIXiFW. WAFri:. 

^Ir. I'^lbridixe W. Waite was born in Peru. Ox- 
ford eount\-. Me., October 22i\. i(Si3, of an ances- 
tr\- datiuL^- back to the hfteenth centurN'. They were 
identilied wilh the earl\ histor\- of our - ountry, tak- 
iiiLi- part in the J^e\()hitionar\ \\ dv and tlie war of_ 
iSr2 and 1S14. and one of them was captain of one 
of the transports, and aided in the capture of (^le- 
bec in i 75^). 

At about twent\- \ears of a_ue he went to W'in- 
throp, r^Ie., to learn a trade; while there he was 
chosen captain of a militar\' companw At the time 
of the call for troops to defend the disputed terri- 
tor\-, he came to this countw 

In I.S43 he man-ied Mar\-, eldest daughter ol 
\\'illiam lohnston, Esq., and with his brcjther in 
law, Almon vS. Richards, built a double tenement 
house, ^vhich he occupied as a home until the time 
of his death. It is now occupied b}' ^^lessrs. Caleb 
Bartlett and Geo. McXalley. 

To them \^ ere born se\ en children, four of whom 
are noA' li\ing: Aim j:i W. of Portland, Stephen 
P. of Andover, N. B., Sarah J. (Mrs. Libby) of this 
^•illage. and Cassias I. Waite of Tacoma, Washing- 



. HISTORY OF KOKT FAIRriliLD. 



359 



ton. Ml". W aiU' was an iiuU;slrioi:s. rcliabic ami 
\\'()i"th\ citi/.cn. lie was earnest in all \N'C)rks to 
elexate antl improve soeietx. and an aetixe and in- 
lluential temperance leader. llis inthienee was 
lelt in imjiroxini;- and monltlinL:' soeietw 

For sonij time bis health had been I'ailinL:', and 
in June, iS')f), the end eanie. A well spent, siie- 
eesstV.l iile work was ended, antl moiwniiiLi- iViends 
stood aiound all that was mortal ol'a kind husband 
and I'alher, a wortln and dex'oted eiti/.en. and a tiaie 
IViend, 

\l,\10\ S. KltllAKDS. 

Almon S. Kiehaicis was born in I .ip.cobnille, 
.Me., October jSiJi. i.Siy, aiul died at his home in 
Mai-)!e (ji-ove ( Fori h'airtield) ]unc 30, i^S^. 

Ml-. Rich.a:cls rema.inetl at home with his parents, 
working on the I'ai'm ami impro\ inij,- e\ er\ oj^por- 
t'.mit\- within his reach to secure an education, uv.- 
til he was ol" a^e. ()nl\- a few months after liis 
majoritx' the disjnite about the northeastern boun- 
dar\- cidminated in a call for soldiers \n c'rive ( Tf 
tin- tresjiasseis and t ik«' formal |">osession ol the 
Aroostook countrw Not (hawiiii;- a ticket in tb.c 
iirstdralt, b.e did not wait bn- a second, but promjit- 
1\ t(;ok the |ilace of a dr.ifted man, ami was amonir 
the liist to aii'ixc upon the scene of aclit.n. 

In |ul\. I ''^44. he \\ ;:s married to Frances h. 
|,'hnston, daughter ol" William Johnston, FLsq., who 
had moved Uc.i;i Kenr.cl cc cor.ntv to th.c Arc <"i took 



1,()0 



HISTORY oi'^ roirr fairfield. 



ri\cr SL'\cral yc:irs before. To them were born 
cioht children: Mrs. Mar\' Hilton, Mrs. Carrie E. 
Jewett, Miss A-^-nes J. Richiirds, Mr. Geori>c Vv. 
Rijhards (-1' ] loulton, Ilor.tce Cj. PJchards, c;!' the 
fii-in of Thurloiio'h, Rich;irds ar.d Co., and Mrs. Al- 
ice I'^rench, and one died in inlancw lie held se\-- 
eral important offices; was local land agent and de- 
puty collector ol:' customs. lie was a siicces >f I'.l, 
pi^osperons farmer. 

For m.ore than a year before his decease he was 
•a c )nSrni^J i r> alid, a 1 1 a'; tim;; a ic— i- 3 i^f .^.w. 
I^artly to keej) liis iiiind Irom his suffering's, he de- 
\-oted much time to reading-; the I>iMe and Josephrs 
were alwa\s at hand, riiid at times, almost lost to liis 
surroundiniis, he would with interest pense them. 

Almon S. Rich;irds p(;iiticall\- wa.s a \\'hiu-, Jind 
upon the breaking up <.f the Whig Y'.wly he be- 
came a conscientious and ardent Rep; blicrvU. He 
was able to gi\e a ;eason ibr his political faith, and 
to defend ,any ]-!osition h.e took. He wa.s a ir.an cC 
j)ositi\e and decided opinions, an earnest Chi istian, 
a reliable a.iul trustwortln' citizen, a ki::d i:eigl:b(;r 
and a de\(;ted and loving lu.sband ;md b.th.er. 

Ri;\'. 15E.\ A^ilN D. ICASl^TAN. 

In 1842 Henjamin D. Eastman, of the E^a.st Mair.e 
conljren.ce, lo.a'ed a.r.d xis^ted th.e / rccs'ook for 
t ie purpose of selectiuig a locat'on, ar.d in the Col- 
Ivwing spring m<,\ed with his '; m''\ to Letter 1) 
pkintati;)n'."a'ad located 'On. th.e K't/ite i-oadahout oi'.c 



IIISTOKY OF FOiri' KA I R I"I FLO. 



:/^r 



and ();ic hall" miles this side oF the west line ol" the 
towr.ship, lU'sides his xounu' I'aniiU. Jesse S. .\\- 
erill, Sleph.en ]\. I'hipps and — Chase aeeniri]\ai^.ied 
him. 

Ml', l-'.astman devoted himsell" to elearin^- up a 
new farm, and in iS^pS assf)eiated himsell with (kvi. 
Maik 'rialton in building- mills at Limestone. Sub- 
seque:"it!\" b.e disposed of his interests in this eoiin- 
t\- and remo\ed to New Ilampshii-e. where he died 
se\eral \ e;irs aii,(\ 

(/I'iS ICAS'IMAN, 

.\ brother of Henjamin I)., eame to this town 
soon after his brothei", and proved a siiceesslid 
farmer, raisinti; up a good i'amily of ehildren. 

One son, (leon^e \\\ I'>astman. was in t!-;e I'nion 
arm\- an.d did i^ood ser\ iee for his eoimtry. lie 
p.ow resides in th.is town, a worthy and respected 
citizen. 

STF.lMIiCN i:. IMIIIM'S 

W;;s lor n-iore than twenty yeai-s an ;icti\e citi- 
zen, a i^ood ir.echardc and industiaons larmer. aiul 
succeeded in accpairin^- some property. lie bought 
the (a-iLinal 'I'ucker place at the mor.th of t!ie Ma- 
jile C-roxe rciad, married Miss Martha Spoor.er. 
and to th.em were born six children. Alter se\er- 
al years he sold his farm aiul bought what has 
sir.ce been krc-wn as the llouiihton faiiii, on the 
r.orth : ic'e of the Ar^.i sit ok ri\er. arnl after the 
deatli of his wife S(;ld auain and bousiht the mill 



^Cy2 lusTHRv oi' Foirr r.\nu'ii:i,t). 

property nt the low^er \iIlno'e. 'Hi is he suhseciuent- 
ly sold, aiul nioxed to I''h)n'cl;i, where he soon thed. 

Mr. Chase did not remain lon^- enough to iden- 
tily himself with the interests oi' this town. 
.MR. ]i:ssi-; s. A\i:RiLf,. 

Ml". Jesse S. Averill pro\ed to be the repieseiU- 
ati\e pioneer of the partw I'^i-om the lirst he was 
a stead\', reliable, industrious \oiino man. He soon 
beeame aeqeainted with, and subsequenth- married 
Miss Emily Iloyt, and eommeneed a humble but 
sueeesslul pioneer life. To them were born ten 
ehildren, ol whom cii^ht ha\e g-rown to man and 
womanhood, and ha\e pro\ed an honor to their 
worthy and influential parents. Three sons reside 
in this town, and one daughter — ?kTrs. John Cur- 
lier — has until the last \ear also made her home 
here. The family are now lixino- in Staunton. Va., 
and are mueh missed from their eirele of friends 
in I'^ort Fairtield. where they, with the others, have 
hvcn doino- theii* part to add to its inlluenee and 
]-)rosperit\-. 

The hardships and privations of earlv life told 
on this worthy eoiiple, and \ et ^sfr. Axerill lived 
to the _i^"ood ai^e of sevent^•-one \ears, and his de- 
\-oted wile some two years lono-cr. and died in June, 
iSc)2. 

A mono- the worthy and industrious, hard work- 
ing; pioneers of 1844, the name of Jesse S. Averill 
will always oecupy an honorable and respected 



iiisTom' ()[■ I'oirr r.Mi^Kir.i.i). 



,V'^^ 



place. Aniono- the life- toilci's \v!r) hilviroJ liai'cl 
;i;id lon^i; to train up tluir a^tlxj frn'i'K'^ F.>r usjt'ul- 
ncss and respcctabilitw and add to the wcalt'n and 
prospcritN" of our town. Jesse S. .Vverill and Enii- 
h' II. A\ erill will cxer be remembered and count- 
ed amon^- the lirst. 

MR. ADDIS )X I'<)\\i:i^^. 

Addison I\)wers was b:)rn in Wilton. Maine, 
September i^^th, iSio. In 1S25 his lather rcni()\ed 
his famih' to Cartha^'e. and hero his home was 
made until his majoritw He married, and in \^t,<-) 
or '40 remo\ ed to the town oi' b^aNette. where he 
remained until the spring' ol i S_|. t, wlien he came 
to the Aroostook and took land in what is now the 
Maple (iro\e settlement. He built a house near 
the Br\ant mills. ha\ inii" bouu-ht an interest in the 
mill of Mr. Ilain.es. lie carried on the mills for 
two \ears and then sold out and remoxed to 
Limestone and worked in the mill for I\astman 
and Nurse for one \ear. While there he bought o| 
Mr. Eastman the land taken hv him in i-'^'j^ on the 
Presque Isle road in this town and about one mile 
Irom the west line. b^>r neailv 1ort\- vears his 
home was upon this place. 

Sinee iSSS he has made his honu- with his son. 
Mr. Roderiek Powers, in the town ol I^aston. 

Amono- the earlv jiioneers. Mi. Poweis uiade 
man\" true and earnest IViends. and was reuarded 
as a reliable and tiusty citizen. He has experi- 



;/^4 



HISTORY OF F0I;T FAIRFIELD. 



eiicccl a i'ull share of the privatioiis and hardships 
which were the h)t of the earl\- settlers, and has 
done well his part as one of the useful and in- 
lluential pioneers of this town. l^xj)osare arid 
hardships ha\ e left theii- marks upon hini. and \et 
al'ter passing- the ei^litv-third milesloiie, he still 
s."ems o-ood for years of enjo\able life. 
Tin-: iciaas I•^\^iI^^. 

hreeman Ellis, senioi", was born i!i Pl\inouth, 
?^Iass, in 1745,. S:^i';di l)radrord, dan«^hler (;l"(iid- 
eon Ih-adlbrd, Esq., of PI\-month, and the sixth 
,<i-eneration ironi Gov. AVilliani Hradlbrd of the 
Plymouth Colon\-, was born in 174S. Freem.m 
Ellis, Km]., their sixth child, was born in Plvmpton, 
i 1 1779- <^n:l died in Fort I'^iirheld. januar\- 13th, 
1S66. 

Eydia I'^iller, the sixth <^enerati( n froni Dr. 
vSami'.el h^iller. wlio was a deacon in l^ew jNIr. 
Robinson's church in Holland, and was th.e first 
physician ;ind surgeon in New I'ai^land, was 
born in Car\er, Mass., ini7.S^^^. l-h-eeman Ellis, 
Esq., and Lydia Fuller were mariied in Hebron, 
Maine, by Elder ^ha'pp, in i Soo. I'reeman Ellis, 
}v., their eldest son, was married to Elunice Shedd, 
in January, iHi^. In 1842 he Au'sited Fort Fair- 
field, and in i<S44 moNcd his famil\- here. He 
was in the best sense a pioneer settler. 

Two of his brothers, Lsaac V. Ellis and Deacon 
Frederick Ellis, with their families, sno-i Ibllowed 



iiiSTOKV oi' roiri' r.\i;;i iici.i). 



.^cy; 



liim. Of Djicon Ellis' family, y\(}]:\ Christina 
Ma'.ul, in iSyo was ir.arricd tolhibbaid C Rich- 
ardson, Liz/.ic M. was raarricd to Stdon Aiucs, 
and bi't'i with their ianiilics ;irc residents ol' F(jrt 
Fair lie Id. 

Capt Osjo A. Ellis, the eldest ;(>n cC Isaac 1'. 
and Rv.th Ellis, was born in Weld, Maine, in I)e- 
cenibjr, iS^r. lie had prepr.red him^eli' i'or the 
law, and had been adnnitted to the bar, aiul was in 
a:tive prajtije when the war broke out. lie was 
appointed iieatenaiU in ecmipany IC, ist Maine 
cavali-\-. lie was a popular and s-aeeesst'ul oHieei-, 
idways reac1\- \'.)V duty, and fearless in the discharge 
(A'datv. On the 241!! of June, US64, at St. .Mary's 
Chiirjli, he s-.rrendered his con-:mi' si(^n and his 

life. 

; J::,, t'u' I ■ - :. Idier he w.is. he cnC.a] his da\ s 
.:po:rthc battleliekl, and received a soldier's burial 
one mile west of Charles Cit\- Corrt House, I'.ear 
Wiljox Landinir, Jai'.ies Run, \'a. 

C.rplain I'^llis was a worthy descendaiU of a 
l>.;,i.m an Il'-ave Ids life in I'efence of 

that civiliz >ii.ui-t in Ibdland, biit failed 

t > lind, and ;. r. ^. >j .i uiy t;stabiished upon the bleak 
a I d.;\ irv ; II X.-.v Ivnulaivd shore — a civil- 
i l.)id and i'.ia>ler, anil t'e- 

<i-;Mdes no !r.;r.ia:i beir.f.Jto rcrviludc aiul sia\cr\. 

lli.s career \}-;is :ih( rt, liis work is done, and well 
,i,,-.. M-,,! iK...-..f. rili!>"- :',:i rid-:r<.wn scddier's 



365 



HISTORY Ol' ruUT FAIRFIELD. 



ij;r.uc, he li\cs in ;i bright, brilliant and imperish- 
able historx- of heroic devotion and noble deeds. 
eA].i:!5 II. ]:i.Lis, 

The eldest son of I'^reenian Ellis. |i-., and Iv.miee 
Ellis, and the autb.or ol" this histor\-, was born in 
^^'eld. Me.. Xoveniber iSth, i<^2^. 1 lis school ad- 
^ antages were g.K)d. In i ■'^43 he left school to ac- 
eonipan\' his fathei" to the Ai'oostook. 

Now a new experience, and all the hardship's 
and pi"i\ations incident to a pioneer life, opened up 
before hiiii. l'"or elcNcn \ears his sch;)()l was the 
himber wo)ds, dri\ ing the lumber down the ri\ ers 
and cleariuL;,- new lands. 

In 1-^54 hj recei\ed his lirst aj')pointment from 
the Meth;)dist Episcopal Church, as preacher in 
charge of the ^Vest()n and Topstield charge. .\t 
the end ol' two x'ears he \vas appointed to \Vesle\-, 
Ci'awford and Xortlitield and in 185}- t:) h^ranklin 
and Sullixan, and in i83o to ICast jNIachias. In 
iSr)i he was elected chaplaiii of the iith IMa'ne 
regiment. 

In 1^64 he was appointed captain of Co. E, 31st 
Maine regiment, and on June 7th, iS:)4, was wound- 
ed; on October 7th of the same year he was dis- 
charged iVom the ser\ ice for total disabilit\- on ac- 
count of his wound. In June, 1867, he had so l.ir 
reco\ered as to be able to visit Michigan, and in 
September of that \ear joined the ^lichigan annu- 
al conrci-ence. ?^Iet]K):li^ t Episcopal Church, and 



iiisroKN oi- i-()i<r lAiKiiKi.n- 



.^^■>7 



^vls appointed m the IVntuatcr station ni that cn- 
luviKH- Vnr nearly ten vear> he xvas able tw do 
the work ol'an itinerant Nlethodist mini.ster. but a 
constant suft'eivr from tlie effects of his mpu v i.i 
thearniv. In 17:^7 1^^' ^^'^^ cnipc Ik-d to ask tor a 
sapernuniarv relation, and seek a diUeient eliniate. 
\ veil- in 'Fexas and absolute rest made some im- 
nn'.vJment. Then there was a return to Miehipm. 
■uul in 1SS2 he removed to Dakota TernlorN . where 
ins wife died, and a second marria-e, to Mrs. I' ran- 
ees K. Richards, was contracted. W hde m South 
Dakota, he was activeU en-a-ed in land and l-.an 
business, h.catin- settlers upon the publr lands 
nrovino- them up at the United State, land otbce and 
nrosecutin- certain land cases before that ol ice. 
In ,SS.)heremoved to Washington, D. C, and re- 
eeived an appointment in the 5/st con-ress; m iSc)i 
Ik- removed to CliHondale. Mass., and m .Mav. iSg:. 
I , l-.,rt Kairlield: and in luly ol that Near h.e com- 
nu-nced t!ie publication of the Aor//^rn; ^-^^'f^- 
•I'his was looked upon as a verv unpromisinL: belcl 
lor newspaper enterprise. It had thrice been en- 
tered onlvtobe abandoned aller a short and fruit- 
less stru-le. It is possible because it was hard, 
he decided to oiveitatrial, for he has alwaxs 
fomd the greatest satisfaction iu succeedinn: where 
,,thers fail. From his first marria<ie, to Miss l.>cna 
!•' 11 lines, which occurred in iS.p), were born s. ven 
children, three of whom are now l\vi.i-.-Avthu, 




and o;i th- r,-iP^M.'>n^ which di^ ide the two great par 



3'>-^ 



HISTORY Of fort FAIRJ'IELD. 



tics, lie is well posted. Earh" in life he was a'.i ardent 
WhiLi', and throuoii tlie war ;in earr.est Republican, 
and t(^ this part\- still owes allei,iance, and is alw.n s 
rc;id\- to discc.ss t'ne principles whicli ha\"e ^i\ cri it 
the strong' hold it has upon tiic American pcoj^le; he 
is a ready, logical and earriCSt public speaker, ar.d in 
tb.e west has done good arid succes^l'id car.ipaign 
\A'ork ; and at the age of sixL\-nine. wit'.i partial pa- 
ralysis of the left side, and a constant sufferer iVom 
the effects of his wound, lie performs as much intel- 
lectual labor as most men in the priir.c of life. 

MR. ALIJION p. V>'; I.FIXGTOX. 

Albion P. Wellington, son of General .> ellin_;- 
ton i)[' Monticello. was born in Albion, Kciv.iebcc 
county. ?klaine, Aiigcst 26t!i, iSi7,and w.is ma.rried 
t',) ^^lissT^Iyra Cj. F(;ster oi'CvX per.?\Iaii.e. ]i'ne 4th, 
1S50. "Sir. V\'ellington rem( \ed to Fort b",iirtiel(' 
in i'^5-' ;ii"'''^ ^^■''l^ employed b\- Col.Mc^.1 sk^ i.^ 
his slore uPitil the breaking (.ut ol'the war. Since 
i(S52 Ml". Wellington has been engaged in trace aid 
scaling liimber; he was for se\eral \ears on.e (.f tb.e 
selectmen ok this town, l-nder the linchar.aiU ad- 
ministration b.e w;is custom house ollicer at this 
place, lie is an. irilluential and reiia.ble citizen ; he 
has been a b'felong Democra.t, and h.as don.e hispa.r-^ 
t\' goodi seT\ ice. 

LAFORFST \-. 'ro\VLI': 

Left his h.ome and comniciiced for hiir.self en 
Stale kind, wlu-n eighteen years old, where he now 
li\es. . In i.Sbj he enlisted in the arm^•, in the iid 
Maine. lie was through tlie t!iirt\- da\s seige at 
i\;r! I Iuds:)n. His enlistment was for rdne mc.nths, 
but hv si.T\ ed eleven, and then was drafted near 



nisToKV oi" roKT i\\iKFii:i.n. 



?,^'9 



t!vj cL)SC of t^c w.ir. In 1866 lie was married to 
Miss Mary V.. I'^tcs. 'i^) ihcni were born four 
ehiklren: "one dejeased, two at home. andMrs. 
Clara Parsons of Kasto:.. Mr. and Mrs. Towle 
have 10.14 been members of the h^ree Baptist 
Chareh. l^)r many years Mr. Towle was elerk, 
and now deae on, and elerk oi" the (j larterlv meet- 
ini;-; has held town oillees, is a sneeessful farmer, 
an'in lajn'.ial eiti/en and a prv)niinent member of 
s:)eieL\'. 

)AMi:S R. Till KI.Ol(iII 

L'lii-' L ) t'lj Ar ) )>• V)k in i S )S, and lojated where 
he now lives, in his bea itilid home in Manle 
Grove. In 1S6S he married Miss Olive Marshall. 
They ha\ e one daughter. He is a sueeessrul. en- 
terprising farmer; some yeais auo hard work be- 
i)\in to tell upon him. and he eonsented to aeeept 
r"ie l<.epabliean nomination for eounty eommission- 
cr. lie is now servinu" on that bo;ird in a very 
aj-'J-'Uble mriier. 1 le holds a very promiiu-iU 
place anions oar reli dde and inlluential eilizens. 
'I'ne e ) nin^- of the Tharloauh lamily to Vovl Vaw- 
Held in 1S6S and '70, was a most \aluable aeeession 
to tl e 1 ( I'l h.lna , i ( t < n'y in iba .' e w l.o weie iIaH 
upon tile sta^e of aelion, but in th(.se who have 
since come to be amoui^- our most active and pro- 
_m-cssi\e business men. 

i; );)i:ru'K row i: i:s 
At the a^e of four years came to this town wilh 
his parents. At his majority he went to rrescpie 
Isle to work, ar.d ii- iSfVi. enlisted in the i^Hh Me. 
re4imjnt for tliree years, lie was twice wounded. 
Upon beini;- mus'.ered out of sei\ ice he returned 
tothistowm In iS'>7 he married M-- l-'li;/ ib.th 



MIS TORY OF FOl.'T FAIRFIF.LI). 



IFotl^'doii ofNow TIanipsliirc, 'Am] settled in Eastnn, 
?>lninc, where he has siiiee resided, and made a 
most exeelleiU ("arm. To them have been born 
four eliildren, lie liolds Ins deed from the State, 
lie is a member oj" Kilpatiiek l^ost, G. A. R., and 
ol" h^rontier Lodi^e, h\ and A. M. 

WTFLIAM nor(;!ii'()\ 
Was born in Anson, Maine, icSiS. In iS:;^ he 
married Miss Doreas Cutts, and in iSyr mo\ ed 
t(j this town. 'I'lieir lamih' eonsists of a dauij,'htc>r, 
who is n-:arried and h'\es in L'abiVrriia, Edward 
L., i"eal estate a^'ent in tliis xillaiic, . lunmons \\\, 
a pi^osperons larmei- in this town, j\. I). Ilonahton, 
in Atlanta, (ja., and (leoroe C, at L. K. Car\- and 
Co"s, Mr. I l()ui;lit(!n is a sueeessi'nl farmer, a re- 
liable and trnstwortlu eitizen, a member "of th.e 
Cono-reo-ational Chnreh. In j^oliticshe is a Repnb- 
liean, and takes an interest in all matteis oij^ublie 
interest, 

WFFl.IS !•:. FARSOXS. 

Willis ]i. Parsons, third son ol" Le\ i I^arsons and 
I.Ndia Ellis Paisons, was born in Saniier\ ille. Me., 
\ia\- 1 6th. iS:;?. 

When he w;is six \ears old his pai"ents mo\ eel 
from San<ier\ille into the new eountr\- of Aroos- 
t(,c)k, settlino- in I*\)rt b\air<Teld. >\ lew years later 
his lather took up a farm in the adjoining township, 
I'^remont plantation, now the prosperous town of 
Easton. Here upon the farm Willis K. i>rew to 
young manhood. eari\- dexeloping a taste for work 
as well as pla\-, and an interest in whate\er he 
found to do, whieh has thus far eharaeteri/ed him 
througii life. I lis advaneemcnt in sehool was rap- 
id, masteriiiLT the eommon seliool aiMthmetie when 



IIISIOKV OI" lORT lAl.MIII.I.l). 



o:il\ eleven \c'ars of n^c, with like pro^Tess in 
other branches. Lea\ ini;" the eomiiion selioois, he 
attended the hi_<;h school at l^\)rt l-^iirlield, the ae- 
adeni\- of I loulton, now Ricker Classical Institute, 
and the eity acadeni\- at lUirlin^ton. X'erniont: also 
trd'cinii- a i'our Nears' uni\ersity course in Kni^lish. 

Mr. I*arsons' lather bein^- a llrst-elass carpenter 
as well as a farmer, the yoaiiL;- man soon dexeloped 
into a li'ood mechanic, and taking- an interest in that 
as in e\ er\ thini;- else, when not teaching- or attend- 
ing- school was at work at his trade; lirst in lloul- 
ton, then in Iioston and other lari^e cities; he made 
a studv olhis business, applying- liis k:^;\\le(.^'e in 
a jiractieal way to his, work, and i 

architecture sooii became master oi ..aion, 

and at eighteen years of a_i;-e hid - hi vork in 

lioston and its nei^hborinL;- t . iun in 

\\'ater\ ille. Me., that he won t.ic repuLaiio.i ol be- 
iui;- "as i,^ood a mechanic as stood on the banks of 
the Kennebec." (joinii' upon the i;ro«id that all 
honest emploxment is honorable, he threw his en- 
erL;-\ into his work, and is still jiroud of the 
fact that NN'hen a boy he IcaiMed a tiMde. t'ne 
best possible capital Ibr a youn^- man who must re- 
Iv upon his own resources to start in life. His s\ n:- 
pathies are al\va\s with the laborint;- classes. Pos- 
sessing- a laudable ambition, a ^-reat reader as well 
as a close student, in looking- for a higher rield he 
naturallv turned to one ol'tlie jirolessions, and while 
still in chai-ue of a crew of mechanics be_«i:an read- 
inu- IJlaekstone and Kent, lie early de\ eloped or- 
atorical j-xtwers, anil when in BiirlinLilon aeadcmy, 
at iiradiiatinii- exercises, the />V/7///i,'"A/// > 

'yi(iti\ rv 1(1 Sfr(!\ .' Ml ( i:i|i( 11 1\ W 



saui 



37^ 



niSTORV OF Foirr iair field. 



l^arsons, was one of the \ cr\' best efforts of the oc- 
casion; in fact, wc Ikuc nc\ cr witnessed a more 
eommenclahle effort on the part oi" a student so 
youni!,'. 'i'hat Mr. Parsons possesses an acti\e, 
sound reasonini;- and linel\- balanced brain. toL!,eth- 
er with much more than ordinar\- eI()Ciitionar\- 
powers, was clear! \- e\ident to e\ er\-one present. 
llis oi-ation would Jia\e rcHected credit upon a col- 
leo-e oraduate. lie measured and modeilated his 
sentences like a \ eteran oratoi\ and I'lilh dese; \ ed 
the storm ol applause bestowed upon hiim. 

llaxini^- a taste for ]')ublic sjieakin^', wliile his 
companions were enL'aii'cd in other amusemerits, he 
was at the lecture room, listcninii; to a \\ endell 
Phillips, a iK'cchcr, or some of our own speakers 
ecpialh' capable, perhaj^s, of swa\in^- the multitude. 
In the summer ol' 1S77, hearino- that almost match- 
less oi'ator, lion. .v. Ci. Lebroke ol' b^)Xcroft. since 
deceased, he became deejdx" interested in his woi't- 
derful comniand of lani'-uaue and splendid oratory, 
and leaxini;- \A'ater\ ille. where he was then rea.dinii; 
law. entered the olllce of Mr. Lebroke as a stu.dent 
in the fall of t'uat \ear. lie' was adniitted to the 
Piscatacp.is bar. Septembei" tci'm, i(S7(S. and soon 
alter formed a co-pa: tnership with Mr. Lebroke, 
which continued as the law lirn.i of Lebroke and 
I'arsons Tor man\- \ears, or until Mr. Parsons was 
elected State attorne\- for the countv of F^iscata- 
(piis, when the tirm was dissohed. Mr. Parsons 
then erected one of the finest law offices in the 
State, nearly opposite on the same street. Here he 
ma\- be found at at an\- time bus\- at work, ar.d ris 
a leading member of the Piscatacpiis bar. engaged 
ni a large- and lucrative pi'actice, from Vvdiich he 



iiisroKV OK voUT F.\i:-ii-ii:i.i). 



.•» / ,") 



has already aci] lircd a comfortable competence. 
lie has occupied many j^ositicns of public trust, 
and been continually in town oilice since he be.uan 
the practice of law," and no man works h;irder for 
the dcveh)pment ol' his owii town and county than 
he. lie is one of the yoawj^ men who believe in 
the i'atare of Maine. Although with his busy life 
he linds little time for tlie old pleasure of sliapin^L;- 
architectural lines of symmetry, some of t!ie Imest 
residences in Pisjataquis county have been remod- 
eled or built nev^' under plar.s furnished for person- 
al friends bv Mr. Parsons. As late as 1892, th.e 
Congregational Church of Foxcroft and Dover e\- 
pei.deda lar^e sum of mo-.-.ey, ir.akin^- their chr.reh 
oiiipare fivorably witli the finest in the State, under 
liis plans and desi>;ns as chairman of the commitec. 
Interested in educational matters, Ik- has been irc- 
q a'::tlv called upon to deliver ;:ddres>es upon ci\v.- 
cationid tonics, and ha.s found time until late years 
t;) serve upon the school board of his town, and is 
u.AV connected with that time honored institution, 
l'\.\jroft academy, as secretary and treasurer. 

.Mr. Parsons w;is unaninK-usly nc.mir.aled lor 
coimtv attorney, iiud elected by a lar<;e ir.ajorily, in 
the summer of "1SS4, serving- in i SS5-6-7-S-() and'(}o, 
recei\in«4 each rc-nomination b\- acclimation, ai.d 
• runnino ah.ead of his ticket, lie showed .-;reat alnl- 
itvas a'l-rimiiial lawyer, and ccaulucted the business 
()i"t!ie Slate with a lirm and stead\ hand. 'i'l:e kiws 
were well enforced, ami he retired from the (-llice 
after a lonu: service wilh.out ha\in-a single paper 
I'nat he haTl drawn (piasf.cd. Since that time i.c 
has been the eiier-elic member fr(.m Piscataqi is 
.)l"tlic Rev ! b •: n Stale cojumilteo. lie h;;s been 



371 



iiiSTo:iY oy Four FAiKi'iiiLi), 



1 1 this 

m 

in 

oF S0\ V 



on the stump as a canipaii^n orator in c\ cr\- cain- 
piiii'n sinot' i^So, cavh- bcino- c]iiotL'(.l h\ the r-rcss 
a-; one oi tlie most eloquent men in Mai lie. lie 
is not an offiee seeker, and is averse to politie;il 
t -ickery and the metliods <.f tlie dema^o^r.e ; h.e 
i^ :in earnest Republiean, a determined ehampion 

what he beliexes to be ri.*>ht, and to b.is iViends. 

1 )yal to the eore. vSoeialh' aiul in bnsi'iess matters 
liis warm friends ;ire Connd in all politieal j^arties, 
I 1 1H92, iiitCY tlie elose of a sharp politieal eontest 

'^'' '\'^c P/s('://cr/!//s ^/^3.s\v'c7v- said, "No 
,_■ has worked harder, or deser\"es 
lion. W. K. P;irsons of b'oxerolt, 
-. .jtate eommittee. in this eourit\'; he 
.ir]\- and late, and h;is iilled the piaees 
speakers who ha\e been ;disenl, and r.o 
ni m has made better or more eon\ineinii- speeehes. 
"Mr. P.:irsons has been acti', el\- en^a^cd in Piseat- 
a iiiis count\- politics for th.e past t^\'e1\c' \ ears, is a 
t u)roiigh-a;(;in<;- Rcpiiblie;in. ;md like the sincere, 
h )norable man that he is, alwa\"s works faithlidlN' 
a k1 unsellislih- for tlie good oi' liis ]i;n"t\- and the 
ad\ancemei!t of th(,se great piincij^k'S of national 
i.iiport in whijn he earnestU' b-elicN es, ;in ;d)le ora- 
t )r and sound logician. On tlie stumj^ before the 
pjople he malies strong and eon\incing arguments 
in behalf of Ameiican industries, the ele\ation ;md 
continued prosperit\- oi' American labor, and in 
supp( ri; and defence of the progressi\e policy of 
the Republican party. in this campaign he h:\ii 
proved t;) be one of tlie most popular speakers in 
the State, as w^ell as an effective organizer. Though 
a strong partisan, Mr. Parsons never takes politics 
into h.is business or social relations, and has in his 



iiisi\)!<v ():■■ 1"(.);m' rAii<i-i::L!). 



375 



l.ir^'c clie'nta^o in;iin- persons opposed In liiin i:i 
]"):)litijs. In all tlic pai"t\" or^-ani/ations he eoiints 
wanii personal iViends. wliose conlr.lenee lie en- 
joN'S I ) t'.ie fullest extent." 

Ilis tjiv")jranje pianjiple-; are pr » i » in;,-.! ail 
sineere, ne\er ha\ ini;" tlraiik a Lilass of intoxie ilin;^; 
liq-.ior in his life; his religious preleienees are Con- 
o-rei)-ational, antl he has been a nieniber of that 
eliureh in l'^)xei"ort lor nian\- \ eais, joining on a 
letter from the Metliodist denomination i;i llonlloii. 
wlijre th.' ri^'ht hind of l"ell;)\vship w.h ex- 
teiuletl to hini. at the a'4e ol se\enteen. b\' Ke\ . 
II.W. Holton. lie is a j^i-oniinent Odd I''ello\v 
and a Mas )n, .\nd has )VequentI\- been ealled upon 
t) deli\er addi'esses at the i^atlierinL^s of these or- 
ders in different parts olthe State. On tlie J.^d of 
Oetober, iJS'io, he was united in marriage t.> A'_:"nes, 
t'le ajeomnlislied dauLihter of 1\. D. (iilnian, l*>s(|., 
of Foxei-olt, tlie union bein;_;" a nio.sl happ\- one. 

We L:i\ e a eut ol' tlieii" I'lei^ant I'esidenee, situa- 
[:] in a deliuhtfui cpaarter ol" that beautiful to\\ n, 
\Yliin-e the\- soeiall\- enjo\- their fi'iends. and the 
(] liet felieit\- ofa liappx' ho!iie. 

'I'M:: 1^ )' .in ns r -^ mi i.-, . 

Ivvii-aini Kollins was boiai in Sharon, in 
iSon, and in iSio nianied L\clia I'dlis of Weld. 
'I'o tlieni wei-e lioiai ei^Iit eliildren, feur oi" whom 
are n:)w li\ in^-. Mv. Rollins mo\ ed to the Afoos- 
t ) )k in 1S35 and settled in l-"aston. In 18(14 his 
wife died; subsevpaentlx he manietl Mrs. Susan 
j-'Jlis, w idow of the I ite Isaae 1". I'lllis, and residctl 
in Maple (jroxe until his death iniSNo, His old- 
est s )n. Axel Issachar Rollin^, was born in 16.; i, 
ail in 1842 minied L-niijia Ddley of A\ eld. In 
1854 he remoNcd to Fort Fairtield and bous-ht the 
Hunt plaee. tw!» uiiles from tliis \illai;e on the 



.^/' 



HISTORY OF rOKT FAII^FIELD. 



Prcsqiie Isle roacl. Of his large family, Wallace 
Rollins is on tlve farm wb.cre lie first settled with 
his father; Charles A. is a blacksmith in tliis \ il- 
lai^c and Mrs. Angelia Rich, IMrs. Florence E, 
I'^oss and ,.^!rs. Lav.ra E. Guild are residents of 
this toM'P.. 

A few years :v.h) there came a g^reat affliction to 
.^!r. Rolliiis in the death of the companion of his 
earl\- manhood and m.other of h.is chikh-en. lie is 
still upon th.e land where lie located in 1S55. and 
or.t of wh.ich h.e has made a delig-litlul, pleasant 
hon:e. BradfoiTl Rollir.s, his r.ext \oi;iigest 
brother, rdso came to th.is t(;wn a.nd located in 
?\laple Gro\e, M'here he died se\eral N'cars ag'o. 
Of his fainily, Mr. Frederick P.ollins, with his 
fimily, resides, inthis \-il]aL;e. 

r\..\:<\\:\iY. 

Thomas FlanPiCry came to th.e Aroc.stocd-: in his 
boyhocxl, before t!ie Aroostook w;ir; he was a 
member (;f J. \\\ White's famil\-, his mother b\- a 
secop.d marria,Lie ha\ing taken tliaa name. In his 
e;irly manhood he married into the L(v^•el^■ f;imilv, 
and totliem. were born v:\r.c children — tlnee sor.s 
and six da^ng-h-ters. Isaac, \Villi;im, ar.d Daniel 
Flannery are citizer:s of Fort P^airtield. aiul tb.ree 
(;f t'ne daughters have married husbands v/ho are 
citizens of t'.iis t;)wn. 

!;!:x()xr r. dukgix 

\Va ■ born in \'crm ;nt in 182:;; lie was a cirtiin 
in tlie old 6th ISlassaeluiseits, Gciicral liutler's 
f r/ji-itj rj^'im jn!:. IIj w.i; mirrie.lin iSiv^iil 
since i85o lias resided in Aroostook cocntw lie 
is :i ]xiinter and paper hanger >y trace, f.eis a 
number cd' ICa'-lern f^rontier ' masonic lodge, cf 



wliicli h.c li;is byccii iiiast. 



is a (puiet, iinob- 



trL:si\c man, a good citizen and a io\al f.'iend. 



HISTORY OF FOlIT FAIU I'l i:r.P. 



j()si:i'ii Mclioi.s. 

Joscjih Xichols, born in Sonth iJi'iwick in fS^S, 
was ni.T rictl in i<S5S. and in iiS(){) rcnioNcd to I''ort 
l'\iirliclcl. lie iKAv resides in I'^aston ; lie is a re- 
liable member of the soeiet\- of I'^ricnds. In 
polities he is Repiibliean, ar.d has For \ ears been a 
eorresjiondeiU Tor the loeal r.e\vspa]:ers. 
irox. \\ AsiiixG'rox L()X(i 

Was borr. in Hueklield, in Oxford eount\ in this 
vState. April 6. iSii, and until h.e was thirty \ears 
ol'aLi'e !)neklield was his home. As a bo\-, !;e lived 
wit!) an older brother, Zadoe. the father <,(' Hon. 
John D. Lon^-, who serxed Massaeluisetts so ae- 
eeptably ;is o-o\err.oi-. After attainii.o-his majority 
he was en<>-;io-cd in busiiiess in Buektield. and there- 
in aequired many friends, and gained <^vc:\t esteem 
as an honest and eonseientious business man. lie 
eame to b\)!t b'a.irheld adiout nS^o, ;md thereafter 
b'ort b^iirlield was his home until Ins deat!i, exeept 
t'ne ju'riod (.f eii^ht years spent at Kastport as col- 
leetor of customs oi" the Passamacp.'.oddv customs 
distiiet. l"\>r man\- \-ears he was eriLi'a.ued iy uen- 
eial business in this town ard \ ieinit\, and also in 
himberinu-, b.:i\ ini;- formed a co-j-iartnership with 
the late lion. Jesse Drew, ur.der the lirm name of 
Lon^- and Drew. 1 le ser\ etl in the exeeuti\ e coun- 
cil of (jov. Lot Moriill, with credit to himself ar.d 
his district. Later ^!r. Loni^- lor oiie session vcp- 
rcsented the Fort ^^lirlieUl class in l!ie State icuis- 
lature. in relinious belief a C'onixrenationalist, he 
wasalwa\s true to his ilei'.(miin;ilional creed, ar.d 
a lilural sujiporter of his church. .Mr. Lor-iLC sper.t 
tlie latest d;i\s ol" his life here in tl'.e crcvtion of a 
hall, wliich is to this clay a memoriad of his repaid 
lor the town, which for so man\- \ ears was proud 
I ) claim him as one of its foremost citizens. 



37<'^ HISTORY OF FORT FAIRFIELD. 



JOHN DORSEV, 

Who located near where the Canadian Pacihc 
railway station now stands, was amon^the \er\- lirst 
to settle on the Aroostook ri\ er. Ol' his immediate 
descendants, William and Miles I)orse\- ofthis town 
jirc now li\inLi,'; his eldest son, Edward, was the first 
cliiidborn on tliis river; tw.) of his sons — Miles V . 
aiul Edward l)orse\- — are amon<;- the acti\ e.prosper- 
ors business men of onr villai^e. All ol the lar^e 
number ofthis name, identified with the business ir.- 
terests ol'this town, were ofthis I'amilw 

CIIAI-{IJ:S I'J. I»AI L 

Came to Vint Fairfield in i. '-44, and for many years 
worked attiie blacksmith trade. Mr. Paul is a con- 
scientior.s ar.d dexoted Democrat, and quite acti\e 
lor a man of his \ears. 

Mrs. A^nes C. Pau.l is a most de\ oted Republican. 
She has keen a \erv acti\e tempcnmce worker. She 
l-as held man\- importar.t public trusts; in i<S4{) was 
appointed assistant postmaster and ^iven s(de change 
()l'tkie*(.l1ice. In 1S77 sh.c was appointed postmaster, 
and held the ( ilice for nine \ears. She is cori-espon- 
dent for the New England press association. pi-esiderit 
(,ftheStater.on-partisan\V.C/JM^., and was appoint- 
ed b\(jo\'. Hr.r!ei<;hasoiU'ol'tl-ieboardof w . )i-ld"s fa.r 
managers. 

) OS 1:1*1 1 I'lXDLAXI) 

\\"as born in this town in r.S^j. Ilis fathei-. l^it- 
rick J^'indland, came to the Aroostook at an early 
da\-. Joseph was marr-ed in li^yy. and in iSSi his 
wife died, lea\inotwo children. One \ ear later 
there was a second marriage. There are seven 
children. The eldest two, a son and daughter, are 
attending- the ad\-anced school in this \illa,<;e. ^^Ir. 
Eindland li\cs upon his farm four miles west ol 
the viiia'^'-e. Fie is a successful iarmer, a reliable 



HISTORY OF FORT rAIRFIELD. 37<) 

inllucntiul. ;iiul much respected citi/.cii (>!' t! e t(.\vii. 

SAMIICI, w . CI^AM 

Was h')vn in lvist.Li\ e'i-ni:)rc. in i<S26, ami was 
iiiiiTic',1 t) !•] 11 11 I R. M jLa'.ii;-lilin i:i i^-S, a:i:l 
in iSv^canij I > this town, and took the hind iip- 
() 1 whicli he now li\cs. To tlicni were born ten 
ehihJren. nine of whom ;ire now lixini^'. l''oi!i". two 
sons and two dauuhcers, make up his i.imily. Ids 
wil'e lia\ inu" cheil tilteen yeai's a,u-o. With the as- 
sistance of his dan^hter. lie has kept the family to- 
L^-ethei". One s;)n is in tlie west, and the oth.ei- one 
in M.issajhasj' ts. Mr. ('ram is a s'jccessl'ed aiid 
prosj")eri)as rarnu;-. antl has made a most deliuhtlid 
home. 

|()si:i'n A eoNANi" 

Was born in iN,:5(). and eame to tlie Ai'ot sttN.k in 
!S4:;;,\vith his lather. L'ol. Isaae L'onanl. beini;- then 
lifteen Neaisold. At the aue ol" eighteen he e<.m- 
meneeci I'or himseif, and married Miss J idia John- 
ston. To them were boin eleNcn ehildren. In 
Seiitembe)-. iS')J. he enlisted in the J-!tl Maine regi- 
ment. a!ul seixed to the er.d ( 1' liis tei m (f enlist- 
ment. Sineethen he has resided on the I'arm where 
his lather fust located. In i SjS his wife died, and 
soon .nf'tei-, to keep his family to^etlKM-, I'.e (leciiletl 
to enter into a second mania^e. Three sons and 
two dauLihters now resiile in this town. Mr. L'on- 
ant has one ol" the line farms that may le foimd in 
l•^)rt i'^ni field. He has made a most deli-htlul 
home.antl in e\ cry way has made a success in lilc. 
lie i.-^ one ol'onr i/ulejUMulent and |'>rosix'roi!S larm- 
ers. A line likeness ( f himiiiax be ibmul in this 
\ obMr.e. 



3 Ho 



HISTORY OF FClrr FAIRFIELD, 



Giccji;ui-: V,. ini/iox 
Was horn in Exeter, in I'S^^. ][c was in tl:c 
war of the Rehelhon, and a.ller its elose eanie 
to Fort l^^airrield, and has since resided in the west 
and in Massachusetts, lie is now li\ iny- with biis 
third wile. lie is now eno-aged iii eai^riage paint- 
ing-, and has one of the largest and best arranged 
painting establishments iii Northern Aroostook. 
After nine years in the west, with th.ree years in 
jNIassachusetts, and a trial ol" Washington, 1). C, 
and other places, his iiist choice is the \i-o;.str;ok 
valicw. 

-MR. lA THi:i; K. CAKY 

Was born in Turner in 1S3S, and in 1859 was 
mirried -to :Miss Ellen EraeiV.rd, tl:c Vngluh 
generation fVom Gov. Bradiord of tlie Plymoiith 
Colony. He was a faithi'id soldier in tlic l^nion 
army. Their laniih' consist ot' four chikh^en, 
Edward K. Carv, IMrs. E. E. Houghton, IMrs. W. 
S. Davidson <ind Eela A. Car\-. 

Mr. Cary is a successful business m.m and a good 
citizen. His v/if'e is a talented woman, ar. 
influential temperance W(;rk,M- a!id a nvni'-i m- of the 
Congregational Chui-ch. 

r^EA. DANIEE FOSTER 

Was born in Montville, Me., in 1802. At the 
.'ige of twent\"-i!\e he married TNliss Sarah Ilussew 
They were earnest and devoted members of tlve 
Cahinist Baptist Church. To them were born ele\- 
en children, four of whom died in infancy. With 
his lamily Dea. Foster took up his residence in ]'"t. 
l^^airticld in Ma\', 1S60. He was an acti\e business 
man, interested in p,olitic;d iilfairs, helu se\er;il 
town officies, was deputy slieriff, and deprTy col- 
lector of customs. He was an influer.tial mciiib.er 
of societ\', a ccnsistciit member and deacon ( ( th.e 



iiiSTOKV oi' I'Oirr iwiiiriiiLD. 



,^^i 



C;ilvinist Baptist Church. Up to tb.c tunc rA Ins 
dcith his iiiMucncc in church and society was. a 
p ,\vcr Tor ooo-.l, and his decease was in tlie 1am- 
ih and coninvanitv decplv re-rettecl. Ol this lar-e 
and induential familv two onlv are identihed wil.i 
I'ort Fai.iicld interests: II. L. Foster, who in 
iS-,i m.uried Miss Zipra Uishop, and now resides 
n.'\r the mill that he built in company wit i his la- 
ther, in the southeast part of the town, ,\vx\ >.rs. J. 
r>. Robbins, who is one ol! tlic active e'luislian 
wjrkers oi' th.e' present day. * 

|. r.. i;or.r.!NS 
Wasb.rnin II opj, M dn-. in i S.^)- Atthea-e 
of twentv-livc he m irrie.l IFiniet L. ^^ aUcr 
of KiU Uni )n. To th.m wcr. born tw) c^ul- 
dr.n, who died in childhood. In September, i. 0:, 
henr)vedtothist()wn; i:- twoa- -.-H i-^';^'^ 

1 T., M:uch, iSr)^ ; ^1 nrirria^e 

^ v.-ith Li/./.ic S. Foster; to 
born Lour daughters; two died in chiK^.- 



his wife di 
\vas entji 
ihcm weri 
jiood; ^' 
PciHe 



' J. marn 

I'H io\ i : 



1 1' 



.\':"i 



.\rn 



d A 



c 1. i:\ji ;.i -•;.: 

b.-iir^' s jnior \'. 

lie was an ir.teiesied .u-d i. 

iiipdiv.l h •■•■-■• deprive 1 ! 

ol' the 1 )•.! ■ 



■c vear 

.., :i r ;_ 



ii 1 1^1 




• 1 , 
II 


1.- ;■! u 


• 1 . 


a 1 


al 







».l V 



r( rtinate in c-c:;pin.ii- 
came home 
j.l him ami 



HISTORY O:^" rORT FAIIIFIEL!). 



l''i\)!:i wiiijh he is now totalK- ('.i.^all'vcl. I:i .uS( 6 
h: mir/ljJ Mis; Mcllij i'!cl)ridc, and in ibS/ rc- 
rii.)\ c 1 t ) For'; I'airticlcl. His famih' c{m-.s!slS (.i* a 
v.i.'c a;i:.l o:ic d mglUcr. I lis hcir.c is o:-. a ^ir.a!l 
i[:.\\ a.lj )inin'4 t!ic \ilLiL;C i:ic;)rp();M!.i ):i. 

CAl'T. AZIAI. W. ri 'ITIAX. 

Ci!:>t. Putrna:! comes oC the old Rc\ (jh;ti(;n:;r\' 
stojk and is ti'iic tn his anccstiA'. lie \v;is bnnic 
., , ill Ilo-.dton. 

Ml' was cipt.ii i of Co. G. 2 2:1 Maine, and faitli- 
CiilK seiAcd until the end.oi' the war. ('apt, Vui- 
man is married and has resided in I'Ort Fairheld 
since; h.e is a wcn'tlu' ai".d iiiTu.MUial citizen, is a 
member of Kilpatrick Post Cj. .\. ]i., aiul is now 
dep'-itv sheriff a-nd an aeti\e and reliable Repub- 
lican.' 

i.'i^iiAixi) ;.. iJAjviJ' 

Wjisl crn inAV(;cdst(:ck.N.P'..in 1H27 : when ; 1 ( i t 
ilve\'cars old liis p.'ireiUs i c n:<A c d to II(udt( n.\\hcre 
becontinucd toli', e ;ill i(S;o. Ih n:arricc'. Mi^.'^\l la 
.\. Peikii.sip. i^'4S;sl'.eisslill \\\ ii";/. S'r.ce i870ll.cir 
home has bee Pi in this\ inai;c. ^Ir. Pidvcr wj ; clcctc d 
t;)theboard( i' -clcetiixn in t<'';6, ard hr.s f"l!cd ih: t 
cftice for fourteeri \e;irs. lie was elected :l.er'(i' 
in 1878 ar.d midcr Cle\elai:d"s ("nst ;.dmir.islrati( n 
he was deput\' collector of ccstonis. lie is ^A\^ 
e;irnest, public spiiited n^an. ( }r.relii;ior s srbjcLts 
a libcn-adist and prcsider.t cA' \-\)\t Pairlicld liberal 
league. -\ line lik'niess <rj::-. i'al.c r a] pea: s in 
this hist,)r\". 

There is a lonp; list of honored nanus, anions;' 
th:'m Cam mini;-s, Sloc:)mb, Osborne, Collins, Bishop, 
Storlin;4, Ilichardson, (jordoii, Spooner, Orcntt and 
Fis!r:^r, who s'noald h:\\-2 beon n;)tic-'d, bat t'n ' limit 
of this bo'jk allows but this brief mention. 

'j-iii: i:xD. 

LRBJe?8 



